Platforms and Science Operators
IODP3 platforms are operated by the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) and the Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3):
ESO implements IODP3 Mission Specific Platform expeditions by contracting suitable research or commercial vessels/platforms for the specific conditions of each expedition. These include geotechnical vessels with marine heave-compensated wireline coring rigs, lift boats with land-based mining-style coring rigs, and research and multipurpose vessels deploying alternative coring apparatus (such as seabed rock drills).
MarE3 is responsible for operating the drill ship DV Chikyu , that has the world’s deepest scientific drilling capability (7,000 metres below the seafloor) and is equipped for both riser and riserless drilling. MarE3 also operates other oceanographic research platforms. This includes the RV Kaimei, equipped with a giant piston coring system that was used on IODP Expedition 386 “Japan Trench Paleoseismology” (jointly implemented by ESO and MarE3).
The IODP3 Science Operators plan IODP3 expeditions and manage all science and ship operations from port to sea and back again. Expedition Project Managers employed by the Operators are part of each Expedition Science Team, providing consistency between expeditions and training of researchers in IODP3 offshore and onshore methods.
