Press Releases


September 18, 2007
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Recovery of TRITON Buoy No.18

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)

1.Current condition

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).

[Moored location]
At latitude 1 °35.63 south and longitude 90°5.41 east (Fig.1)
[Recovered location]
At latitude 1°29.79 south and longitude 90°58.77 east (Fig.1)
[Recovered date and time]
11:54 September 15, 2007 (Japan Standard Time)
[Drifting period]
73days
[Recovered condition]
The mooring cable was cut at the point of 500m depth of water (wire rope), just below the sensor (Fig.2). The rest of the cable and the anchor should remain initial location. A part missing and damages were identified on the sensor that had been installed on ocean surface portion.

2.Possible cause

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.

3.Report to the Japan Coast Guard

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.

4.Future plan

By using our Oceanographic Research Vessel MIRAI, remaining mooring cable will be recovered and the buoy will be reinstalled by January 2008.

Contacts:

(For TRITON Buoy)
Mr. Ishihara or Mr. Yamaguchi
Long-term Observation Group, Department of Applied Ocean Engineering
Marine Technology Center (MARITEC)
(For Publication)
Mr. Shinji Oshima e-mail; press@jamstec.go.jp
Manager, Planning Department, Press Office