On December 18, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held the naming and launching ceremony of its new mine countermeasures vessel JS Kerama at the facilities of Japan Marine United (JMU) in Tsurumi, Yokohama.
The ship is the fifth unit of the Awaji class to reach the final stage of construction and is scheduled to be commissioned into the fleet in fiscal year 2026.
JS Kerama is 67 meters long, with a beam of 11 meters, a draft of 5.2 meters, and a standard displacement of approximately 690 tons. The crew consists of around 50 personnel. The propulsion system uses two shafts driven by diesel engines, allowing a maximum speed of about 14 knots, equivalent to 26 km/h.
Regarding armament and mission systems, the vessel is equipped with a remotely operated 20 mm gun mount, in addition to a complete suite of mine warfare equipment. This includes magnetic and acoustic sweeping systems designed to detect and neutralize various types of naval mines.
+ Video: U.S. Coast Guard intercepts second sanctioned tanker near Venezuela
Built as the fifth ship of the Awaji class, Kerama receives a name that has not previously been used by either the former Imperial Japanese Navy or the current Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The name refers to the Kerama Islands, located southwest of the main island of Okinawa.
The primary mission of mine countermeasures vessels is to ensure the safety of maritime routes by neutralizing naval mines, an element considered critical to coastal defense and freedom of navigation. Awaji-class ships stand out for their use of a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite hull, which significantly reduces magnetic signature. This feature makes the class one of the largest series of composite-hull vessels in operation worldwide.
After the completion of final outfitting work and sea trials, JS Kerama is expected to be officially commissioned into the Japanese fleet during fiscal year 2026, further strengthening the mine countermeasures capabilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Source and images: Japan Marine United (JMU) | Instagram @jmsdf_pr. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
