The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has celebrated the commissioning of its fourth and final Awaji-class minesweeping vessel, the JS Nōmi (MSO-307), in a ceremony held at the Tsurumi-ki shipyard in Yokohama. This significant milestone marks the completion of the Awaji-class program, a series designed to enhance Japan’s maritime mine countermeasures capabilities. The JS Nōmi was delivered by Japan Marine United Corporation, which initiated the construction of the vessel in 2021.
The name of the vessel—Nōmi—draws inspiration from Nōmi Island, located in Hiroshima Prefecture. Historically, it is notable as the second Japanese military vessel to adopt this designation, with the first being the Mikura-class escort ship designated in 1944.
During the ceremony, officials gathered to commemorate the formal handover of the vessel, which is set to assume critical roles in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s mine-clearing operations. The JS Nōmi will replace the service’s largest mine countermeasures fleet, the Yaeyama-class vessels that were operational from the 1990s until their retirement in 2017. The new ship will join its sister vessels—the Awaji, Hirado, and Etajima—who are currently engaged in similar mine countermeasures operations from their respective home ports in Yokosuka and Kure.
The Awaji-class minesweeping vessels, including the JS Nōmi, measure 67 meters (approximately 220 feet) in length and have a beam of 11 meters (about 36 feet). They are equipped with advanced technology, including a 20-millimeter air-cooled rotary cannon, search radar, sonar systems, and unmanned underwater vehicles. This sophisticated equipment enables the vessels to detect and neutralize underwater explosives and other maritime threats efficiently. These ships have the capacity to accommodate over 50 crew members and are powered by twin diesel-electric engines, allowing for a maximum speed of 14 knots (approximately 26 kilometers or 16 miles per hour).
The commissioning of the JS Nōmi comes at a time when Japan is actively enhancing its naval capabilities amid growing regional security threats. Recently, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also accepted its fourth Taigei-class stealth attack submarine, part of an initiative to fortify maritime defense strategies. By the year 2030, it is anticipated that a total of eight Taigei-class submarines—manufactured by Kawasaki—will be commissioned. In addition to this, Mitsubishi has launched Japan’s fourth and final Hibiki-class auxiliary ocean surveillance vessel, which is designed for acoustic-based monitoring of surface and seabed activities, further augmenting Japan’s maritime operational capabilities. The Hibiki-class vessel is expected to be commissioned later this year in Kure, Hiroshima.
