The Hibiki-class ships, with their catamaran design and large spacing between the 2 hulls, allow for installation of many rows of tow-array sonars. The increased coverage area surveyed will give them big advantage in mapping large volumes of subsurface environment, including small features that (enemy) submarines could use as hiding places. Accurate mapping of subsea, including sea floor, features also allows for safe navigation of JMSDF & allies submarines. Earlier this year, a US SSN suffered damages when it collided with a below surface seamount.