Pressmeddelandet innehåller info om båtens utrustning och prestanda och tyvärr också att den är försenad så att den beräknas lämna Singaporevarvet först i slutet av juni och börja sampla diamanter på Block J i september, dvs ett antal månader senare än förväntat. Långsiktigt spelar det försumbar roll för den mycket stora aktiepotentialen.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire - April 8, 2008) - Afri-Can Marine Minerals
Corporation (“Afri-Can”) (TSX VENTURE:AFA)(FRANKFURT:AJF) is pleased to report
that International Mining and Dredging Holding Ltd. (IMDH) has confirmed that
conversion of the sampling vessel “DP Sampler” is now approaching completion
in JSML Shipyard, Singapore. The MV DP Sampler, which will be renamed, is
scheduled to leave Singapore at the end of June. Originally a specialized
trenching vessel named DP Trenchsetter, which was acquired by IMDH in December
2006, DP Sampler is being converted into a dedicated marine sampling vessel.
(A picture of the MV DP Sampler prior to conversion is available at the
following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Picture_Afri-Can.jpg).
Conversion has taken longer than expected. IMDH initially expected DP Sampler
to leave Singapore at the end of March, but high demand for rig building and
ship repair has put pressure on yards. DP Sampler, owned and operated by IMDH,
is under contract to Afri-Can to perform a sampling programme on Afri-Can´s
Block J concession (see press release of January 19, 2006 entitled “Afri-Can
signs agreement with an international marine contractor to resume diamond
exploration on Block J in Namibia”).
Work on the vessel in Singapore is currently focused on installation of the
moon pool, the 8 metre by 10 metre opening in the base of the hull for access
by sampling equipment to the water below, and the A-frame rated at 140 tons
safe working load. Once this final work has been completed, the DP Sampler
will sail to Cape Town, South Africa, where the sampling equipment and mineral
processing plant are ready to be installed. The ship will then sail to Namibia
in mid-September to begin the work programme on Block J after completion of a
testing round. Afri-Can will provide investors with a detailed time schedule
following departure of the DP Sampler from the shipyard in Singapore. The aim
of the complete surveying and sampling program on Block J is to delineate
diamond resources on Block J in compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
The 105 metre DP Sampler, which has two bow thrusters, a stern thruster, and
two 60 ton cranes, is equipped with a full Dynamic Positioning II System and a
mineral processing plant for diamond recovery. The mineral processing plant
comprises a Feed Preparation module, a Primary Storage module, a Comminution
module, a 20 tons-per-hour Dense Media Separation module, a fully-integrated
X-ray Recovery unit, and a Final Recovery module incorporating a closed loop
glove box sorting facility with an integrated safe.
The 5 square metre sampling drill system is capable of operating at water
depths of 250 metres and through 12 metres of overburden material, both well
in excess of Afri-Can´s requirements. The sampling tool has sufficient
capacity to crush footwall, boulders and cobbles in order to access trapped
diamond resources, as well as drill through to older gravel concentrations.
Importantly, the drive system of the sampler is umbilical, as opposed to a
rigid drill pipe system, allowing work to be conducted during even adverse
weather conditions. The system is designed to provide precise quantitative
sample volumes, which will enable delineation of detailed economic resources,
and establishment of mining equipment and technology.
“Conversion of the DP Sampler and the construction of new sampling equipment
and treatment plant is a considerable investment for IMDH and we are pleased
with their serious commitment. We have maintained our focus on employing the
most up to date and efficient technology available for our sampling program on
Block J. We are confident our programme will be successful because the DP
Sampler is built to perform to a very high standard,” commented , President
and CEO of Afri-Can.