September 18, 2007
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC; Mr. Yasuhiro Kato, President)has recovered TRITON Buoy No.18 which had drifted away from its mooring spot. (Please refer to our press release on July 5 this year about the buoy drifting)
Since TRITON Buoy No.18 drifted away from its mooring location on July 4 this year, we have been monitoring its location. And the Buoy No.18 has been recovered in cooperation with the ship "Shoyo Maru" (belongs to Fisheries Agency).
Since a tangled longline was found at the point of 30m depth of water, it is assumed that wire rope was cut by pulling with fishing net.
Immediately after the recovery of TRITON Buoy No.18, we reported to the Japan Coast Guard that no more warning is needed to other ships about risk of collision or interference of their route.
By using our Oceanographic Research Vessel MIRAI, remaining mooring cable will be recovered and the buoy will be reinstalled by January 2008.