EventMitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced it has signed an agreement with the Japan Agency for Marine‑Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) to operate the new Arctic research vessel Mirai II. The deal gives MOL responsibility for the ship’s operations, which include its first Arctic expedition slated for summer 2027.
Japan’s first fully‑icebreaking Arctic research ship, Mirai II, is set for delivery in December 2026 after JAMSTEC awarded operation to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). The 13,000‑ton, 128‑metre vessel is scheduled to launch its first Arctic Ocean research mission in 2027, supporting Japan’s efforts to monitor climate change in the region.
MOL signed an agreement with JAMSTEC to operate Mirai II, a new ice‑breaking research vessel, whose first Arctic expedition is expected in summer 2027; MOL has been preparing operations and conducting crew training for its launch.
JAMSTEC will take delivery of the new 13‑000‑ton icebreaker Mirai II on Dec. 18, 2026, replacing its decommissioned sister ship to boost Arctic research with advanced observation tools.
Japan's JAMSTEC will receive the 13,000‑ton icebreaker Mirai II on Dec. 18, 2026. The vessel, replacing the decommissioned Mirai, will undergo shakedown cruises and public shows before conducting North‑Pole observation missions in 2027‑28 and traversing the Arctic Ocean in 2029.
Japan said its new icebreaker Mirai II will be finished on Dec. 18 and handed over to a national research institute, preparing for its first Arctic voyage next summer.
Japan will launch its new icebreaker, Mirai II, on its first Arctic observation voyage in August 2027 after completion and hand‑over in December 2026. The 128‑meter vessel will conduct high‑precision environmental studies across icy waters, addressing declining Arctic sea ice.
