The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) is pleased to inform you that the delivery of the Deep-sea Drilling Vessel CHIKYU (gross tonnage: 57,500tons) has been scheduled as indicated below. JAMSTEC awarded the vessel’s construction contract to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI).

The CHIKYU was originally planned to be delivered at the end of April 2005. However, the requested reexamination of the derrick’s structural analysis required an additional reinforcement work before the delivery, and based on the thorough review of the vessel’s construction schedule, the delivery is now planned on 29 July 2005.

While the CHIKYU will undergo the shakedown and training cruise after the delivery, JAMSTEC is now planning to open the vessel to the general public in September 2005 in the Tokyo metropolitan area. JAMSTEC will announce the details of the vessel’s open house as soon as the decision is made.

After the completion of the cruise, the current plan calls for the CHIKYU operations under the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) to commence in Japanese Fiscal Year 2007.