Testing the AMV3 against the Atlantic

Augetto Graig – Debmarine Namibia’s incredible new N$7 billion diamond recovery vessel, provisionally known as the AMV3 until it is officially named upon arrival in Walvis Bay later this year, commenced with trials at the end of last year.
Bay trials were performed outside Cape Town from 30 December 2021 to 2 January 2022, before the vessel returned to Cape Town harbour for a change of crew, and set off again for trials in the South African sea areas around Port Nolloth.
According to Captain Mlungisi Ndwandwe, the bay trials included testing the state-of-the-art dynamic positioning system, which keeps the position of the vessel stable relative to the deployed sea-bed crawler used to recover diamonds, despite changes in weather and sea conditions.
Launch and recovery tests were done for the crawler, crawler soft landing and quick lifts, as well as crawler deep water integrity tests were done.
Crawler functions were tested while tests were also done on pumping water to the on-board diamond processing plant, he said.
The sea trials include training of the crawler crew, crawler function and mining tests up to full capacity, treatment plant function tests, plant maximum throughput tests and steady state tests.
At 300 tonnes, 28 meters long, 7,8 meters wide and standing 8,3 meters on its tracks, the massive crawler forms an integral part of the dedicated diamond recovery effort. Connected to the vessel by a 16-tonne umbilical cord, the crawler must constantly be positioned in coordination with the ship.
“The function of the crawler is to pump run-of-mine material to the (onboard) treatment plant. The crawler consists of several sub-systems that operate together to allow efficient gravel recovery from the seabed,” project engineer Joanna Haufiku explained.
These include the boom, the chassis, jet water system, slurry transportation system and the subsea control system. Subsystems include the subsea electrical system, the hydraulic system, subsea lubrication, positioning and visualization, thrusters and the track system.
Further testing of the dynamic positioning system and on-the-job training of dynamic positioning operators are also on the cards. The sea trials as scheduled to be completed you 25 January. According to the ship master, Captain Ndwandwe, the vessel will then sail back to Cape Town where the project team will disembark and any remedial work required will be done before proceeding to the Atlantic 1 diamond mining area. “Approximately at the beginning of March the vessel will proceed to Walvis Bay for inauguration,” he said.
The AMV3 is scheduled to start commissioning in Namibian water in February.

PREPARATION
The AMV3 was in the Port of Cape Town, where it was being outfitted with the mission equipment, since arriving from Romania in September 2021.
The mission equipment was built in large modules with a combined mass of 2200 tonnes, in parallel to the vessel construction in Romania. The crane used to lift the modules onto the deck was one of the world’s biggest super-lift cranes with a capacity to lift approximately 800 tonnes.
The heaviest module lifted for the AMV3 weighed over 407 tonnes, according to the youngest Debmarine Namibia captain.
Previously the Debmarine Namibia CEO, Otto Shikongo, stated: “The AMV3 came performing to expectation. The standard and quality is truly impressive.
“Despite challenges brought forth by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Damen Shipyard, De Beers Marine South Africa and our project team in Cape Town brought about this unique and technically advanced Namibian asset.”
The construction of this unparalleled vessel started three years ago when Debmarine Namibia signed the construction contract with the Damen Shipyard, quickly followed by the steel cutting ceremony on 15 May 2019.
Fast forward to the current, the seventh Debmarine Namibia diamond recovery vessel was finally done and the company awaits this great national asset to reach the Namibian waters and join the rest of its fleet in recovering marine diamonds safely and sustainably, whilst building a lasting positive legacy for Namibia, according to Debmarine spokesperson Stella Ipinge.
“Relevant skill is critical for the new vessel to operate optimally,” she elaborated. A team of 119 Debmarine Namibia employees man the AMV3, of which 89% are Namibians. The new vessel will need a total of 161 employees when operating at its full capacity, she added.
The company currently owns, manages, and maintains five diamond recovery vessels and one exploration and sampling vessel, a new vessel acquired three years ago, the MV SS Nujoma.
The recovery vessels are the MV Mafuta, MV Grand Banks, MV Debmar Pacific, MV Debmar Atlantic and MV !Gariep all operating in Atlantic 1 mining licence area.
Debmarine Namibia is a joint venture marine diamond prospecting and recovery company, owned in equal shares by the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers Group. Debmarine Namibia began operations in January 2002 and mines off the southern coast of Namibia.
Guided by its exploration and sampling vessel, the MV SS Nujoma, the recovery vessels recover diamonds off the ocean floor using highly advanced drill and crawler technology, supported by sophisticated tracking, positioning and surveying equipment.
Debmarine Namibia is ISO 14001, ISM and OHSAS 18001 certified, in line with its commitment to safety and environmental management. Debmarine Namibia is a recognised world leader in marine diamond exploration and recovery.
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FINAL STAGE TIMELINE
Bay trials start: 30/12/2021
Bay trials completed: 02/01/2022
Return to Cape Town for crew change: 03/01/2022
Sails for South African Sea Areas near Port Nolloth: 04/01/2022
Commence sea trails: 05/01/2022
Complete sea trails (projected): 25/01/2022
Return to Cape Town for remedial work before leaving to Atlantic 1
Commissioning in Namibian waters: February 2022
Inauguration in Walvis Bay: March 2022


PHOTOS: Debmarine Namibia

Mlungisi Ndwandwe, captain of the AMV3.

Debmarine Namibia is currently busy with sea trials of its diamond recovery vessel, AMV3.