Key points
- The SS Nujoma was officially inaugurated on 15 June in a ceremony in Namibia and is described as the largest diamond exploration and sampling vessel in the world.
- The vessel is 130 metres long with a displacement of 12,000 tonnes and cost 2.3 billion Namibian dollars, funded 75% by two commercial banks and 25% by Debmarine Namibia.
- Built by Kleven shipyard in Norway with modules from Poland and mining equipment integrated in Cape Town, the vessel was launched on 9 January 2016 and handed over to Debmarine Namibia on 29 June 2016.
- The ship is named after Namibia’s founding president and operates with a crew of 150 marine staff, 85% of whom are Namibian citizens.
