Japan’s state-of-the-art deep-sea scientific drilling vessel, D/V Chikyu (meaning “Earth”), has officially been recognized by the Guinness World Records for achieving the “Deepest scientific ocean drilling.”
The record-breaking depth was reached during a mission to study the fault zone responsible for the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
The Chikyu, which is operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Mantle Quest Japan Company Ltd., secured the world record with a total drill pipe length of 7,906 meters.
The achievement was accomplished during the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 405 (J-TRACK), where the team successfully drilled and conducted logging operations at the Japan Trench off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture.
World Record Achievement: The total length of the drill pipe used was 7,906 meters (approximately 4.9 miles).
Scientific Goal: The mission was critical to understanding the mechanism of the massive 2011 earthquake by sampling and analyzing the fault zone deep within the Earth’s crust.
JAMSTEC President, Hiroyuki Yamato, expressed immense pride, stating that the certification is proof of the high technical capabilities of the vessel and its crew. The record underscores Japan’s leadership in marine-earth science and deep-sea exploration, paving the way for further research into earthquake prediction, the origins of life, and global environmental changes.
The Chikyu is renowned for being the world’s first science vessel equipped with an industry-standard riser drilling system, allowing it to penetrate deeper below the seafloor than any other scientific ship.
