A national ocean research institute has decided to cancel a marine survey off Japan, citing concerns it may not be able to secure enough fuel for its two vessels due to supply disruptions caused by the war in Iran, according to an official.
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology had planned to survey waters off Tohoku, an area hit by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the Nankai Trough, where a megaquake is feared, among other areas.
The launch in late February of US-Israeli attacks on Iran has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for energy transport.
“We’ve secured the necessary fuel for our vessels to use in March, but it’s uncertain whether we can obtain supplies beyond that,” a JAMSTEC official said.
It is the first time the institute, under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, has decided to cancel a survey due to fuel shortage concerns. The two vessels — the support ship Yokosuka, which carries a submersible for deep-sea research, and the Shinsei Maru, capable of surveying seafloor and ocean conditions — were scheduled for deployment.
Kyodo
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