Press Releases


June 12, 2007
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Recovery of TRITON Buoy No.4

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC; Mr. Yasuhiro Kato, President) has recovered TRITON Buoy No.4 which was drifting around.

1. Current condition

Since TRITON Buoy No.4 drifted away from its mooring position on May 11 this year, we've been monitoring its location at the tropical sea area of West Pacific Ocean and have finally recovered it.

[Moored date and location]
Location:
1°34.3S, 154°07.03E (Fig.2)
Date & Time:
June 9, 2007 07:00 (Japan time) Commencement of work June 9, 2007 08:13 (Japan time) Completion of work
Drifting period:
29days
Recovered condition:
Mooring cable of the recovered buoy was cut off at the point of 10 meters depth (Fig.3, 4). Therefore, lower part of the mooring cable and anchor were supposed to remain at the mooring spot or around.

2. Possible cause

Many fishing nets were tangled on the buoy surface, which suggested that the wire rope was pulled and cut off by fish nets.


3. Report to the Japan Coast Guard

The Japan Coast Guard was informed about the recovery of TRITON Buoy No.4 immediately and no more warning is needed to other ships about risk of collision or interference of their route.

4. Future plan

By using our Oceanographic Research Vessel MIRAI, remaining mooring cable will be recovered and the buoy will be reinstalled by the end of June this year.

Contacts:

Mr. Matsumoto or Mr. Ishihara
Long-term Observation Group, Department of Applied Ocean Engineering,
Marine Technology Center (MARITEC), JAMSTEC
Mr. Shinji Oshima, email; press@jamstec.go.jp
Manager, Planning Department, Press Office
JAMSTEC