'Hidden Gem' shines as ship makes splashing arrival in Rotterdam

KUALA LUMPUR: The Metals Company has announced the arrival of the 228-metre-long former drill ship renamed the Hidden Gem in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to begin its conversion into what is expected to be the first ship classified as sub-sea mining vessel by the American Bureau of Shipping.

TMC's strategic partner Allseas acquired the former ultra-deep-water drill ship, which can accommodate 200 people, in March of 2020, as her configuration is well-suited for modifications that will enable the deployment at sea of a 4.5 kilometre-long riser to bring polymetallic nodules up from the seafloor.

"We are very happy to see the Hidden Gem over here in Europe and to see Allseas making such tremendous progress with her," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Metals Company, Gerard Barron.

"The vessel has successfully embarked on the dry dock maintenance phase, which bodes well for a smooth and timely conversion in advance of our pilot mining project in 2022."

In partnership with The Metals Company (formerly DeepGreen Metals Inc), Allseas is developing a deep-sea mineral collection system to responsibly recover polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor and transfer them to the surface for transportation to shore.

According to a statement, the nodules contain high grades of nickel, manganese, copper and cobalt--key metals required for building electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies.

The Metals Company recently completed its SPAC merger and public listing on the Nasdaq and strategic partner Allseas, a global leader in offshore engineering, congratulated the company.

TMC and Allseas expect the vessel to be operational for pilot nodule collection tests by mid-2022.

More details at www.metals.co.

-- BERNAMA