Chamwe Kaira
Debmarine Namibia has unveiled its Next Generation Crawlers after investing close to N$1 billion in their development.
Head of projects and technology development, Danie van Aswegen, said the new crawlers are designed to be more robust and extend their lifespan.
The mining vessel Benguela Gem is serviced every three years, while its crawler is replaced every 18 months.
“It needs to be changed out because it is under so much load at the seabed. It’s not the best environment for equipment to operate. With the heavy load of moving material, it cannot last for long periods, so it lasts about 18 months. The vessel then comes in, and we change it out,” Van Aswegen said.
Debmarine has built two crawlers, allowing one to operate while the other is refurbished. During refurbishment, equipment is replaced, the frame is repainted, and structural components are restored.
“We can do three to four voyages before we have to replace the whole frame. We operate in a harsh environment, so after three to four voyages, about three to four years, we need a new frame. We have tried to make this vehicle more robust to last longer, but time will tell,” Van Aswegen said.
Project manager David Shivute said the new crawler weighs 370 tonnes compared to the previous 296 tonnes, making it the largest submersible tool in the company’s marine diamond mining.
He added that its weight is equal to 60 elephants. “It’s a massive, massive tool.”
Van Aswegen said the crawler will be more efficient, faster, and more profitable.
“We are hoping that the crawler will last 30% longer so that they don’t have to replace the components at sea, which is a difficult task. This is a significant improvement from the last crawler,” he said.
Shivute said the crawler will also allow mining in more difficult areas. It requires a 3.4 MW power supply, equal to 38 hours of power.
Chief operating officer Maenge Shipiki-Kali said the company uses geo-survey technology and automated underwater vehicles to map and sample the seabed before mining begins.
“We don’t just go blindly and extract diamonds,” she said.
Debmarine operates three drill vessels and two crawlers, which together produce about 65% of its diamond recovery. The fleet runs year-round with crews working 28-day shifts.
Each vessel carries 60 to 80 crew members and can remain at sea for up to three years before major maintenance. Crews undergo helicopter underwater training every three years.
Support logistics include a tugboat for deliveries, a fuel tanker that refuels vessels every three months, and planes that transport crews between Oranjemund and Windhoek. Helicopters are used for crew changes at sea and to transport diamonds to shore.
Shipiki-Kali said the company returns about 90% of seabed material after mining and avoids heavy chemicals. An independent seabed monitoring committee oversees its environmental practices.
“We mine natural diamonds, and we also want to protect the natural world,” she said.
