The construction of Japan's first "Arctic Research Vessel" to observe the environment of the Arctic Ocean has begun.
Construction will begin on the "Arctic Research Vessel," which observes the Arctic Ocean, and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology has signed a contract with a major shipbuilding company.
It is large with a total length of 128 meters and a width of 23 meters, and can accommodate up to 99 people.
The most important feature is that it has a high ice-breaking function such as breaking 1.2 meters of ice and traveling at a speed of 5 km / h or more, so it is possible to perform observations using an autonomous underwater vehicle.
The environment of the Arctic Ocean is thought to be related to the weather in Japan, and it is said that it is changing rapidly due to the effects of global warming by observing the state of waves and ice as well as the temperature of seawater. It is expected to obtain detailed data on the Arctic Ocean.
This is the first time in Japan to build an "Arctic Research Vessel" for observing the Arctic Ocean, and the construction cost will be about 33.5 billion yen, which is scheduled to go into service in 2026.