Japanese research vessel in Chennai

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 13. An oceanographic research vessel of Tokyo University - Hakuho-maru - has arrived at Chennai Port on way to the Bay of Bengal. It will leave January 17.The 3,987-tonne vessel had recently completed mid-oceanic ridge system and seismic studies in the Gulf of Aden and off the African coast.

Prof. Kensaku Tamaki of the Ocean Research Institute (ORI), University of Tokyo, and Prof. Hiromi Fujimoto of Tohuku Universty, who head the 35-strong scientists team, told presspersons on Saturday that unlike the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Indian ocean and the Arabian sea did not have ample oceanographic data.

In the Bay of Bengal the scientists would study the sediments washed down by rivers from the Himalayas.

``Our studies lay emphasis on sea floor research, mainly of geophysical nature. For example, in the Gulf of Aden, the study centered round the possible changes that could have occured before Arabia split from the African continent.

The sediments scooped out were over 3,00,000 years old; this can give us an insight into the climatological and geophysical changes that could have occured then.

It would help in understand the physical changes that led to the human form.''

Prof. Tamaki also chairs Inter-Ridge, an international research group conducting studies in under-sea geophysical systems.

The ORI had commissioned Hakuho-maru in 1988.

The vessel had 10 laboratories for studying physical oceanopgraphy, meteorology, chemical, biological, geophysical and geological characteristics.

It had modern equipment for sea-floor mapping, satellite reception and seismic streamers (for sea floor research).

Capt. Yutaka Tanaka said the ship had facilities to conduct studies 12000 m under the sea and temperature controlled labs for marine life research.

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