▁an ▁approximate ▁gross ▁t onn age ▁of ▁about ▁ 5 7 , 0 0 0 ▁tons . ▁The ▁ship ▁has ▁a ▁draft ▁of ▁ 9 . 2 ▁meters ▁and ▁a ▁maximum ▁cru ising ▁speed ▁of ▁ 1 2 ▁kn ots . ▁The ▁amid ships ▁der rick ▁is ▁ 1 2 1 ▁m ▁above ▁sea ▁level , ▁and ▁the ▁top ▁drive ▁has ▁a ▁lif ting ▁capacity ▁of ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 ▁tons . ▁Its ▁complement ▁of ▁ 1 5 0 ▁crew ▁are ▁divided ▁between ▁ 1 0 0 ▁operators ▁and ▁ 5 0 ▁science ▁personnel , ▁with ▁at ▁sea ▁crew ▁changes ▁handled ▁by ▁hel ic opter ▁transfer . ▁ ▁Key ▁innov ations ▁include ▁a ▁G PS ▁system ▁and ▁six ▁adjust able ▁computer ▁controlled ▁az im uth ▁thrust ers ▁( 3 . 8 ▁meters ▁in ▁diameter ) ▁that ▁enable ▁precise ▁position ing ▁to ▁maintain ▁a ▁stable ▁platform ▁during ▁deep ▁water ▁dr illing . ▁The ▁maximum ▁dr illing ▁water ▁depth ▁for ▁ris er ▁dr illing ▁is ▁ 2 , 5 0 0 ▁meters ▁and ▁can ▁support ▁a ▁dr ill ▁string ▁up ▁to ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁meters ▁long . ▁ ▁The ▁hel ip ad ▁can ▁serve ▁very ▁large ▁hel ic op ters ▁transport ing ▁as ▁many ▁as ▁ 3 0 ▁persons ▁per ▁landing . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁D / V ▁Ch ik y ū ▁was ▁built ▁for ▁deep - se a ▁ge ological ▁scientific ▁research , ▁which ▁now ▁includes ▁not ▁only ▁research ▁of ▁earth qu ake - gener ating ▁zones