Table 3. Ocean research vessels (more than 500 gross tons) for marine biology in Japan.
| Name of research vessel | Gross tonnage | Institution/Affiliation1 | Main mission |
| Bosei-maru | 2,174 | Tokai University | Multi-purpose missions |
| Chikyu | 57,087 | JAMSTEC | Drilling |
| Hakuho-maru | 3,991 | JAMSTEC | Multi-purpose missions |
| Hokko-maru | 568 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Kairei | 4,628 | JAMSTEC | Support of remotely operated vehicle |
| Kaiyo | 3,350 | JAMSTEC | Multi-purpose missions |
| Kaiyo-maru | 2,942 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Keifu-maru | 1,882 | JMA | Oceanography |
| Keiten-maru | 860 | Kagoshima University | Fisheries science, Oceanography |
| Koyo-maru | 2,703 | NRIFS | Fisheries science, Oceanography |
| Mirai | 8,687 | JAMSTEC | Multi-purpose missions |
| Nagasaki-maru | 842 | Nagasaki University | Fisheries science, Oceanography |
| Natsushima | 1,739 | JAMSTEC | Support of remotely operated vehicle |
| Oshoro-maru | 1,792 | Hokkaido University | Fisheries science, Oceanography |
| Ryofu-maru | 1,380 | JMA | Oceanography |
| Shinyo-maru | 649 | TUMSAT | Fisheries science, Oceanography |
| Shirase | 12,500 | NIPR | Antarctic Expedition |
| Shoyo-maru | 2,494 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Shunyo-maru | 1,228 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Soyo-maru | 1,234 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Tansei-maru | 610 | JAMSTEC | Multi-purpose missions |
| Tenyo-maru | 1,020 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Umitaka-maru | 1,886 | TUMSAT | Fisheries science, Oceanography |
| Wakataka-maru | 692 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Yoko-maru | 608 | NRIFS | Fisheries science |
| Yokosuka | 4,439 | JAMSTEC | Support of human occupied vehicle |
1
Each abbreviation is shown in Table 2.