The “Mirai” is an oceanographic research vessel, of the largest class of its kind in the world, that has excellent sea-worthiness and navigability, and it allows observational research for a long period of time in most sea areas, excluding frozen areas. The “Mirai”, with such features, is collaboratively used by researchers in Japan and foreign countries, and it contributes observational research aimed at clarifying and predicting environmental changes on a global scale, such as global warming.