March 2, 2008
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Research on Collision between MSDF DDG ATAGO and a fish boat SEITOKU MARU
-Objects found during the search operation
by the Research Vessel NATSUSHIMA-
The Remotely Operated Vehicle HYPER-DOLPHIN spotted six more manmade objects (a total of fifteen objects were found since the research started) during the research on the collision between MSDF DDG ATAGO and a fish boat SEITOKU MARU being carried out by the Research Vessel NATSUSHIMA belongs to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC; Mr. Yasuhiro Kato, President).
About objects
Photograph 1, 2
- (1) Location :
- (1) Location : North Latitude 34.31, East Longitude 139.49, Water depth 1,841m
(Please refer to Fig.1) - (2) Photographed date and time :
- 09:04 March 2, 2008
Photograph 3, 4
It is possible that this object is the same one that was spotted by DEEP TOW on February 24, 2008.
- (1) Location :
- Location : North Latitude 34.31, East Longitude 139.49, Water depth 1,841m
- (2) Photographed date and time :
- 09:11 March 2, 2008
Photograph 5, 6
- (1) Location :
- Location : North Latitude 34.31, East Longitude 139.49, Water depth 1,842m
- (2) Photographed date and time :
- 09:29 March 2, 2008
Photograph 7, 8
- (1) Location :
- Location : North Latitude 34.31, East Longitude 139.49, Water depth 1,841m
- (2) Photographed date and time :
- 09:40 March 2, 2008
Photograph 9
- (1) Location :
- Location : North Latitude 34.31, East Longitude 139.49, Water depth 1,840m
- (2) Photographed date and time :
- 11:51 March 2, 2008
Photograph 10,11
- (1) Location :
- Location : North Latitude 34.31, East Longitude 139.49, Water depth 1,839m
- (2) Photographed date and time
- : 12:03 March 2, 2008
JAMSTEC provided the information immediately to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and we heard that the MEXT provided the information to the Crisis Center in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Japan Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defense. Currently, we have not informed if the Japan Coast Guard makes any decision about relation between the found object and the accident.
Fig.1 Research Area
: location of the object spotted and photographed
: research area
Photograph 1: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Length of the object: approximately 40cm
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 2: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Left: manipulator of HYPER DOLPHIN
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 3: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Length of the object: approximately 30cm
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 4: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Left: manipulator of HYPER DOLPHIN
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 5: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Length of the object: approximately 1m
Left: manipulator of HYPER DOLPHIN
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,842m)
Photograph 6: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,842m )
Photograph 7: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Length of the object: approximately 2m
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 8: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Near side: sample basket of HYPER DOLPHIN
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 9: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Length of the object: approximately 40cm
Right: sample basket of HYPER DOLPHIN
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,841m)
Photograph 10: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Length of the object: approximately 30cm
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,839m)
Photograph 11: Image of on-board display screen taken by a digital camera
Left: manipulator of HYPER DOLPHIN
(North Latitude: 34.31 East Longitude:139.49 Water Depth 1,839m)
Contacts:
-
Shinji Oshima, email: press@jamstec.go.jp
Manager, Planning Department Press Office
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
