Built as a nuclear research- cargo vessel under yard No 2107 by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Tokyo for the Japan Nuclear Ship Div. Agency.
17 November 1968 construction commenced.
12 June 1969 launched under the name MUTSU, Mutsu means ‘respect’, ‘taking care’ or ‘good relations’.
Tonnage 8. 241 gross, 3.171 net, 2.396 dwt, dim. 130.46 x 19.0 x 13.2 m., draught 6.9m.
Powered by a two-loop pressurized water reactor given output of the main steam engine of 10.000 hp., speed 16.5 knots. Trial speed 17.6 knots.
Bunker capacity fuel 932 ton, fresh water 1.576 ton and water ballast 1.374 ton.
Cargo capacity 4.427 cubic meter bale and 4.459 cubic meter grain. Three cranes, one of 5 ton and two of 3 ton.
Crew 80.
13 July 1970 completed, and delivered to her registry port Mutsu at Mutsu Bay.
25 August 1972 her reactor was completed, and the nuclear fuel was loaded on 04 September 1972.
When test runs had to be made, the local fishermen and inhabitants protested against this experiment, and the test runs alongside and in the bay were postponed.
After lengthy negotiations between the Japanese Government and the local community it was agreed that the ship could make her test outside the Japanese waters.
26 August 1974 still with some protest activities, the MUTSU sailed from Mutsu Bay, and when she arrived at her test area about 800 km east of Cape Shiriya , Aomori her nuclear reactor was started.
At around 17.00 hours on 1 September, an alarm went of that radiation was leaking through her reactor shield, and the tests were broken off.
The town Mutsu and Aomori Prefecture and the fishing industry, refused to allow the ship to the harbour, at least on 14 October an agreement was reached and the MUTSU was allowed to return to her registration port, where she arrived on 15 October 1974.
After a lengthy repair between 1978 and 1982 by Sasebo Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Tokyo she moved to Sekinehama Mooring Port where she got an overhaul.
February 1991 all repair completed and ready for sea.
She made four research voyages with a length of two times the earth circle, before she was taken out of service in 1992, without having ever carried a commercial cargo.
The MUTSU was the third nuclear merchant vessel built, the SAVANNA was the first and the OTTO HANN the second.
1995 her nuclear reactor was removed and nuclear decontamination commenced.
1997 Was she refitted in a research vessel and transferred to the Independent Administrative Institution, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.
Renamed MIRAI means in Japanese ‘future’.
Tonnage now: 8.687 gross, 2.606 net, 3.624 dwt. Dim. 128.58 x 19.0 x 10.5m, length bpp. 118.1m., draught 9.1m.
Powered by four diesel engines, manufactured by Daihatsu Diesel Mfg. Co. Ltd. Moriyama Works, each 2.500 hp. Two controllable pitch propellers, speed 16 knots.
.Bunker capacity 1.689 tons. Fresh water 807 tons and water ballast 1.136 tons.
Crew 34 and 46 researchers.
29 September 1997 conversion completed. Managed by Global Ocean Development Co. Ltd.
Register port still Mutsu.
She is the world largest research vessel, and with her ice strengthened hull can she make voyages to Polar Regions. She is fitted out with a large size anti rolling system of a special design.
With her up-to-date oceanographic and marine meteorological instruments and is expected to act as a floating platform for sophisticated interdisciplinary researchers, emphasizing on global changes.
2007 Given by http://www.equasis.org , same owner and manager, IMO No. 6919423., under Japanese flag.
The theme side of Bjoern Moritz on the following URL http://www.shipsonstamps.org/Topics/html/atom.htm tells you more on merchant nuclear vessels.
Benin 1995 200f sg 1290
Japan 1969 15y sg 1164, scott 991
Kampuchea 1988 80c sg 893.
Tchad 1997 475F sg?
Source: Register of Ships 1992/93 ClassNK. Many web-sites . ClassNK on line via the equasis web-site.