2017 Volume 136 Pages 25-32
Total area of Japanese territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is the sixth largest in the world. As compared with such vast sea area, Japan has been operating insufficient number of vessels and voyages for getting required data of observation and exploration in the ocean of Japanese present situation. On the other hand, the organization University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS)(1) in North America, has been operating systematic 18 survey vessels of four organizations (March, 2016), Therefore, ocean observation and exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean has been advanced steadily. In order to steady research of ocean observation and exploration in Japan, Japanese research vessel and training ship (research vessels) belonging to national and public institutions will be good used. They have ability for ocean research and exploration potentially, and it is necessary to build up their network for smooth assignment of the research vessels. We authors propose to create database about them to understand the performance of such research vessels, crew, regular quay, operational performance and operating environment, etc., and discuss research vessels operating network.
