Vol. 1,
issue #45, 19 January 2001
Update on NamSSol mining system
Namibian Minerals Corporation (NAMCO) has advised that its NamSSol mining system had been damaged during the recovery process from the seabed to the support vessel MV Kovambo.
The NamSSol mining system is Namco's first seabed crawler, which started mining operations in 1998. On 07 January it was mining in Mining Licence 51 of the Luderitz Bay Grant when its undercarriage apparently became lodged on the seabed.
During subsequent recovery the upper chassis of NamSSol parted, leaving the undercarriage on the ocean floor. No employees were injured and the local marine environment was not adversely affected by the incident.
MV Kovambo sailed for Cape Town where a preliminary inspection of the damage to the upper chassis was carried out. The slew ring which connects the upper chassis and undercarriage has been completely dislodged. Two supporting beams from the main frame ofthe upper chassis have sheared, causing distortion to the main frame, dredge pump arrangement and suction boom
connection points.
Initial estimates are that repairs to the upper chassis may take at least two months.
MV Kovambo then departed for the Luderitz Bay with specialised personnel and equipment for the recovery of the undercarriage.
Dredging News Online
