The renewal of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s mine countermeasures capabilities has reached a new milestone. Today, December 18, the facilities of Japan Marine United Corporation served as the venue for the launch of the fifth vessel of the new Awaji class.
Intended as the replacement for the older Yaeyama class, whose three units were decommissioned in 2017, the Awaji class follows a long Japanese naval shipbuilding tradition specialized in mine countermeasures vessels. As of today, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has the first four units of the class in service, following the commissioning of the Nomi (“MSO 307”) last March.
Although it had been planned for the series of specialized vessels of the class to end with the Nomi, in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2024 the Japanese Ministry of Defense allocated a total of US$ 90 million and US$ 177.7 million, respectively, for the construction of the fifth and sixth units.
Accordingly, bearing the hull number “MSO 308,” the fifth vessel of the class, designated Kerama (named after the island of the same name located in Okinawa Prefecture), was launched at the Japan Marine United Corporation facilities in the city of Yokohama.
With the launch milestone completed, the vessel—67 meters in length, 11 meters in beam, with a displacement of 690 tons and the capacity to accommodate a crew of 50 personnel—will now enter the next phase of construction and completion of its above-water structure. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to commission it into service in March 2027.
Finally, looking ahead to the future of the Awaji class, the construction of a seventh vessel is anticipated, included in the budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2026. This was announced last August and envisages an investment that could reach US$ 219.4 million.
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