The mv Namakwa (formerly known as the mv Hex Liberty) has left Cape Town for sea trials in preparation for diamond mining at Diamond Fields/Trans Hex joint venture’s operations offshore Luderitz, Namibia. The mv Namakwa is the first vessel specifically dedicated to the joint venture operation and has been undergoing conversion in Cape Town.
The highlights of the mv Namakwa are:
The mv Namakwa is a self-contained mining unit.
It will use proven airlift technology.
It will use a more powerful 20-inch airlift system and an aggressive high-pressure water jetting system, both of which will enable greater throughput and should result in more diamonds.
It has a 50-tonne-per-hour dense media separation plant and final recovery with twin stage X-ray machine and on-board hands-off sorting.
It will use advanced sonar visualization equipment.
It will operate on a 24-hour, seven-day-per-week, 28-day shift rotation.
Joint venture operations began on May 24, 2001, five months ahead of schedule. Using an interim vessel, the mv Ivan Prinsep, operations focused on a combined program of trenching and block mining activities. This preliminary phase yielded more than 9,700 carats and provided knowledge of the geological features and distribution of diamonds. This places operations in a more favourable position when full-scale mining commences in early November with the mv Namakwa.
“We were fortunate to start the joint venture earlier than expected using the mv Ivan Prinsep,” said Andre Louw, executive director, marine division of Trans Hex. “The experience gained on working the joint venture area combined with the increased mining capacity of the mv Namakwa should enable us to meet our expected production output.”
Frank Waldron, chief executive officer and chairman, states: “We are very pleased to see the mv Namakwa come on-line. With the features mentioned above, the mv Namakwa should meet the joint venture partners’ expectations. We look forward to its deployment in Marshall Fork in early November.”
WARNING: The company relies upon litigation protection for “forward-looking” statements.
