==================================== CHIKYU MAIL NEWS Vol. 110, October 1st 2008 This mail news service provides you with information about the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration. CHIKYU HAKKEN WEB SITE http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/ ==================================== ------------------------------------ [JAMSTEC Press Release] New Operation Company@for The Deep-sea Drilling Vessel Chikyu ------------------------------------ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC; Yasuhiro Kato, President) concluded the operating consignment agreement (*2) with Mantle Quest Japan Co., Ltd.(*1) as of today for entrusting operation of the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, starting from December this year. The D/V Chikyu has been operated by Global Ocean Development Inc. since July 2006 which concluded cooperation agreement with Norwegian drilling contractor Seadrill Offshore AS. But the contract will expire in October this year. And as a result of JAMSTECfs public invitation for operating the D/V Chikyu in February, the operating consignment agreement will be made between JAMSTEC and a new company named Mantle Quest Japan Co., Ltd., which is jointly established by Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (*3) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (*4). *1 Mantle Quest Japan Co., Ltd. Address: 2-4-3 Horidome Cho, Nihonbashi, Chuoku, Tokyo Establishment: September 10, 2008 Capital: JPY300,000,000 Shareholders: Japan Drilling Co., Ltd (60%), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (40%) Work: operation and management of the D/V Chikyu *2 operating consignment agreement Contractor: Mantle Quest Japan Co., Ltd. Terms of contract: From the date of conclusion through March 31, 2009 Amount of contract: JPY3,440,000,000 (cost-plus) Contract details: operation and management of the vessel, maintenance of the vesselfs body / drilling equipment / facilities, providing / controlling subcontractor service, procurement of equipment, control land stations, etc., *3 Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. Establishment: April 23, 1968 Capital: JPY4,000,000,000 Number of employees: 550 Features: The only one ocean drilling contractor in Japan. Having five rigs and operating ocean drilling for oil or natural gas in Japan and overseas such as off the coast of Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. *4 Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha Establishment: October 1, 1885 Capital: JPY88,531,000,000 Number of employees: 29,872 Features: One of large ocean going shipping companies in Japan undertaking total of eight categories of business such as liner service and other marine services, logistics, terminals, passenger vessel, real estate. Number of operating ships and vessels are 777. GODI is an affiliated company, which operates the Oceanographic Research Vessel Mirai as well as the D/V Chikyu. Visit following web page for further Press Release updates; http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/press_release/20080930/ Contacts: (For the contract) Mr. Takeo Tanaka, e-mail: cdex@jamstec.go.jp Manager, Planning and Coordination Department The Center for Deep Earth Exploration (CDEX) Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (For Publication) Mr. Noriyuki Murata, e-mail: press@jamstec.go.jp Manager, Planning Department Press Office Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology ---------------------------------------- ======================================== CHIKYU MAIL NEWS To subscribe or unsubscribe, http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/mailnews/ CHIKYU HAKKEN web site introduces you to every aspect of the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration. http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/ The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an international marine research drilling program dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth by monitoring and sampling sub seafloor environments. IODP drilling operations aboard the Chikyu are managed by JAMSTEC through CDEX, Japan Implementing Organization. http://www.iodp.org "CHIKYU HAKKEN" means Discover the Earth in Japanese. =========================================