Singapore-based marine design company SeaTech Solutions International has been selected to provide the basic design for a new seabed mining vessel.
Using SeaTech Solutions’ design, China-based Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding will construct the vessel that will be used for operations at the Solwara 1 project.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The new-build will be owned by Marine Assets Corporation (MAC) and chartered to Toronto’s Nautilus Minerals for a period of five years, with an option to extend the charter period.
Under the Solwara 1 project, Nautilus Minerals will be mining copper and gold with the support of MAC’s vessel, which will serve as a floating base for its operations in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea.
The 227m-long and 40m-wide vessel will have a 30MW diesel-electric engine and will be an offshore construction vessel (OCV) build for worldwide use.
In addition, the vessel will be Tier III compliant and capable of working and servicing in emission control (ECA) areas. It will have the capacity to accommodate 180 people.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataEquipped with two main cranes such as 200T AHC subsea crane and 100T ship-to-ship crane, the vessel will be an ABS DPS – 2 EHS – F dynamically positioned vessel.
Being a floating base for marine operations, the vessel will be designed for seafloor resource production, onboard ore storage and other related responsibilities.
It will be equipped with seafloor production equipment (SPE), including specialised seafloor production tools (SPT’s), riser and lifting system (RALS) comprising a subsea pump, riser system and associated handling systems.
Using an enclosed cargo-handling system, the vessel will be capable of transferring ore directly to any hold and from the holds to incoming handy size bulk carriers for export, Seatech stated.
Image: Computer rendition of Nautilus’ Offshore Construction Vessel in production mode. Photo: courtesy of SeaTech Solutions International.
