Sea trials and supporting technologies of manned submersible Shinkai 6500 .

After the four years of development of the modern maximum depth submersible, JAMSTEC has successfully completed the training dives of SHINKAI 6500 , a new manned submersible whose maximum operating depth is 6,500 meters, from June to October in this year. SHINKAI 6500 was constructed by Kobe Shipyard and Machinary Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) and marked 6,465m and 6,527m dives in the Japan Trench during the sea trials with the support YOKOSUKA (built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.) in August 1989. This paper presents the results of the sea trials, training dives and the features of SHINKAI 6500 with her supporting technologies.