As part of the effort to expand its offshore operations, De Beers SA ordered a new US$142 million custom-built diamond mining vessel, Reuters reported Nov. 21.
The Anglo American Plc unit entered a memorandum of understanding with Norwegian firm Kleven Verft AS to build the ship.
The mining vessel will work alongside the company's fleet to recover diamonds off Namibia's Atlantic coast as part of a 50/50 joint venture between De Beers and the Namibian government.
The ship is expected to be operational by 2021 and will be the longest in its fleet.
De Beers launched the world's largest diamond exploration vessel, the SS Nujoma, in June to maintain high production levels until 2035.
