RV Kaimei
State-Of-The-Art Vessel for All-Round Marine Research
Kaimei conducts extensive studies of the seabed and subseafloor that include wide-area surveys for marine resources and distribution, atmospheric and ocean environmental changes associated with global climate change, and disaster prevention and mitigation studies (earthquakes & tsunamis).
Kaimei's vast range of add-on scientific equipment facilitates 2D and 3D geophysical surveys, and seafloor samples collection using piston corer (~ 40 meters long) and power grabs. Subseafloor samples are collected with the Boring Machine System (BMS). The vessel's fully equipped laboratories are also available for analyses of the collected data and samples.
Main equipment
1Laboratories
Lab #1 behind the wheelhouse is equipped with tools for underwater acoustic equipment and meteorological observations. Lab #2 is divided into semi-dry and wet compartments, each equipped with facilities for sample processing and analysis.
2Selection of seafloor sediment sampling tools
Large equipment such as the BMS and power grab collect seafloor samples and are operated from the A-frame crane on the stern of the ship. A 40 m piston corer to collect geological samples is operated from the starboard side of the ship.
3Three-mode multi-channel seismic system
Two-dimensional seismic surveys
Three-dimensional seismic surveys
High-resolution three-dimensional seismic surveys
Depending on the requirements, Kaimei is equipped with a multichannel reflection survey (MCS) system. The MCS streamer cable is deployed towed behind the vessel (see figure) and geological structures below the seafloor are revealed by the reflection of sound waves emitted by the air guns.