The diameter of the hole is 2.5 meters across resulting in a 5m2 sample area. Recently the Explorer sampled diamond bearing gravels up to a water depth of 185 Meters off the Namibian coast. This is the deepest anybody has ever sampled or mined for offshore diamonds.

All the gravel gets transported to the surface with the help of 20 bar air compressors who provide the air for the so-called airlift system. Gravel than gets separated and sorted in the processing plant until only diamonds are left. All other material gets returned to the seabed, thus minimizing any environmental impacts.

To ensure the integrity of the samples the plant is completely cleaned between each sample to ensure no gravel gets mixed from different samples and avoid any contamination.

Depending on the sample spacing, sediment thicknesses and weather conditions the MV Explorer is capable to drill between 25 to 55 sample holes in a 24-hour period.

The MV Explorer is run 24h/day 365 days/annum by a multinational team of various experts in their field, from geologists and surveyors to subsea engineers and artisans of various disciplines. They are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the mining system and the separation plant on the vessel. A team of skilled seafarers is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the vessel and ensures that the vessel and crew adhere to all international safety and marine standards.