Debmarine’s new offshore diamond exploration vessel reaches final construction phase

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The final phase in the construction of marine diamond mining giant Debmarine Namibia’s new diamond exploration and sampling vessel is now under way after its arrival in Cape Town last week.

The critical integration phase is now under way to have the purpose-designed, 113-m-long offshore SS Nujoma delivered and commissioned in Namibia’s Atlantic 1 diamond mining licence area in early 2017.

The SS Nujoma arrived in Cape Town on Saturday after a three-week maiden voyage from Norway, where the vessel has been under construction at Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven Verft's shipyard in Ulsteinvik, over the last 15 months.

“The integration of the mission equipment into the vessel, is the final construction phase of the SS Nujoma project journey before the vessel sets sail for Namibian waters,” said De Beers Marine, which is managing the N$2.3-billion project on behalf of Debmarine.

The sampling system and treatment plant, built in large modules in the Port of Cape Town, would now be lifted onto the vessel using a 750 t crane, said De Beers Marine project head Michael Curtis.

“Debmarine Namibia is satisfied with the progress of the project to date. It is a good position to be in on this large investment, with the project currently being two months ahead of schedule and cost forecasts looking favourable,” added Debmarine Namibia CEO Otto Shikongo.

The new vessel, which is expected to have a 40-year lifespan, will join a fleet of five other diamond mining vessels in the Atlantic 1 mining licence area and will further expand the sampling capacity and future capability of Debmarine Namibia’s operations.