Research Vessel

NATSUSHIMA

Research Vessel NATSUSHIMA retired on February 2016.

Overview

NATSUSHIMA was built and began operating as a support ship for SHINKAI 2000 in 1981. After SHINKAI 2000 was retired from service in 2002, NATSUSHIMA was modified and began acting as a support ship for ROV HYPER-DOLPHIN, able to conduct surveys at a maximum depth of 3,000 m. In addition, the ship can conduct comprehensive surveys and observations of deep sea and trench areas. This can be done by mounting DEEP TOW, towed deep ocean floor survey system that reveals the surface layer topographies, strata topographies and geologic structures of deep-sea bottoms, or by mounting a single channel reflection survey system, a piston core, or a dredge on the vehicle.

Characteristics

Aft wheelhouse

NATSUSHIMA has an aft wheelhouse that allows the vessel to be piloted while at the same time deploying and recovering HYPER-DOLPHIN from the rear section of the vessel.

Aft wheelhouse
Aft wheelhouse

Control room

The control room is housed within a container that is installed onboard NATSUSHIMA. The room features six large plasma displays that show the high-vision images received from HYPER-DOLPHIN, providing an overwhelming sense of actually being onboard the dive vessel itself.

Principal specifications

Length67.3 m
Beam13.0 m
Depth6.3 m
Draft3.7 m
Gross tonnage1,739 tons
Cruising speed10.5 knots
RangeApprox. 10,800 nautical miles
Accommodation55 (37 crew, 8 HYPER-DOLPHIN support personnel, 18 research personnel)
Main propulsion systemDiesel engines: 625kw × 2
Main propulsion methodControllable pitch propeller × 2

Related Links