========================================
CHIKYU MAIL NEWS Vol.113, October 24th 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]
Azimuth Thruster Repair Work on
the Deep-sea Drilling Vessel Chikyu
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/press_release/20081022/
----------------------------------------

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
(JAMSTEC: Yasuhiro Kato, President) has begun repair and
replacement work on the damaged Azimuth Thrusters of
the Deep-sea Drilling Vessel Chikyu. 
The gear damage was found during regular maintenance 
inspections conducted from February to April 2008. 
The repair work is being carried out by the Sasebo 
Shipyard of Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. 
in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. 
The Azimuth Thrusters are 360 degree swiveling propellers
used as part of the ship's dynamic positioning system (DPS)
to maintain ship's position during drilling operations.

Work schedule:
22 October 2008
Begin repair work at Sasebo Shipyard, 
Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd in Sasebo City, 
Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan 

26 October - 14 November 2008  
In dry dock, replace two rear thruster gears. 
Carry out confirmation tests and sails for Kobe, Japan 

19 November 2008 - End of February 2009
Remaining damaged thruster gears (4) replaced 
at the port of Kobe, Japan 

Beginning of March 2009
Repair work completed after verification of sea trial tests 

After repairs, several functional and operational tests 
will be performed from the middle of March, 2009, 
in preparation for IODP expeditions off the coast of 
the Kii Peninsula, Japan. 

*1: Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP)
The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an 
international marine research drilling program 
dedicated to advancing scientific understanding 
of Earth by monitoring and sampling subseafloor
environments. 
Through multiple platforms, preeminent scientists 
explore IODP principal themes: the deep biosphere,
environmental change, and solid earth cycles. 
IODP has started since October 2003 funded jointly 
by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology of Japan and the U.S. 
National Science Foundation; with additional 
support provided by the European Consortium of
Ocean Research Drilling; the People's Republic of China,
Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Republic of
Korea through the Korea Institute of Geoscience and 
Mineral Resources. IODP now has 21 member countries. 

Contacts:
(For Chikyu)
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) 
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.
=========================================