Debmarine Splashes $142M on Diamond Ship

RAPAPORT… De Beers is planning to add the world’s largest
custom-built diamond-mining vessel to its fleet at a cost of $142 million.



The ship will be the sixth belonging to Debmarine
Namibia, a 50:50 joint venture between the miner and the Republic of Namibia, De
Beers said Tuesday. Expected to begin operations in 2021, it will enhance the
company’s ability to recover diamonds off the southern African country’s
Atlantic coast, the rough producer added.



“There is a great amount of
potential in Namibia’s marine diamond deposits, and this new vessel will
support our strategy to continue to grow our offshore operations,” said De
Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver.



Earlier this year, De Beers
launched the mv SS Nujoma, the world’s largest diamond sampling and
exploration vessel. Acquiring the new ship will help the company capitalize on
that vessel’s work, and support the long-term future of Namibia’s diamond sector,
Cleaver added.



Kleven Verft, a Norwegian
ship-building company that constructed the Nujoma, will also build
the new vessel, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with De Beers.