Japan to receive Mirai II Arctic research icebreaker in December 2026

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) is set to take delivery of the Mirai II, a 13,000-ton icebreaking research vessel, on December 18, 2026. The delivery ceremony will be held at the Japan Marine United Corp. Isogo plant in Yokohama.

Mitsui O. S. K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) has signed an operational agreement to manage the vessel, utilizing its expertise in Northern Sea Route operations and LNG fuel handling. The Mirai II will replace the decommissioned Mirai, which lacked icebreaking capabilities.

Equipped with advanced observation systems, sonar for seafloor surveys, and unmanned underwater drones, the vessel is designed for intensive Arctic research. Following shakedown cruises in Japanese coastal waters and the Mariana region, the ship is scheduled for its first Arctic Ocean observation cruise in the summer of 2027, with plans to navigate across the Arctic Ocean by 2029.