Tyne Conversion On Course

PEACE IN AFRICA will be world's biggest diamond mining vessel.

The project to build the world's largest diamond-mining vessel is well on course for completion by Mid July, Gareth Penny, Managing Director of De Beers Group said last week at the group's results presentation in Johannesburg.

The ship used to be the DOCK EXPRESS 20 and was converted at the AP Tyne yard in 2006. Now called the PEACE IN AFRICA she is being fitted with specialist mining equipment by Bateman Engineering Pty.

The vessel will be operated by De Beers Marine to establish a viable, sustainable marine mine in the South African Sea Areas (SASA) off the west coast of South Africa. De Beers expects to yield up to 240,000 carats a year once the ship is fully commissioned.

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