De Beers Deploys Next-Generation Subsea Diamond Recovery Crawler on Benguela Gem

De Beers’ Upstream Technology division has unveiled a new generation of subsea diamond recovery crawlers, marking a significant leap in marine mining technology. The first unit has been installed on Benguela Gem, Debmarine Namibia’s $486-million recovery vessel that operates off Namibia’s coast.

The crawler, developed over nearly four years, combines advanced automation, precision engineering and predictive maintenance to boost efficiency and reduce downtime. According to project manager Rudi Agostinho, the system enables the Benguela Gem to improve recovery rates by about 20% without a substantial rise in operating costs.

Weighing 370 tonnes and measuring 28 metres in length, the crawler features a mining arm with a 21-metre arc sweep and operates at depths of 100–135 metres. It draws diamond-bearing gravel and sediments through an 800-mm pipeline to the vessel’s onboard treatment plant.

A second crawler is under construction to ensure continuity during servicing. Key innovations include a hydraulic track tensioning system that adjusts to seabed conditions, extending track chain life and improving torque efficiency.

Debmarine Namibia, a joint venture between De Beers and the Namibian government, introduced the Benguela Gem in 2022 with the goal of increasing annual output by 500,000 carats. The new crawler, specialists say, represents the future of marine diamond recovery, combining robustness with adaptive systems to deliver higher yields in increasingly challenging offshore environments.