6000-ton Class Subsea Resource Exploration Vessel with 181 Billion KRW Investment Sets Sail

Keel Laying Ceremony of Energy Resource Exploration Vessel 'Tamhae 3' on the 6th
Full-scale Launch Scheduled for April Next Year

The 6,000-ton class physical exploration research vessel ‘Tamhae 3’, with a total national budget investment of 181 billion KRW, has set sail.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced this at the ‘Physical Exploration Research Vessel (Tamhae 3) Launching Ceremony’ held at HJ Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.’s Busan Yeongdo Shipyard. Tamhae 3 is the first domestically built seabed energy resource exploration vessel, equipped with 35 types of state-of-the-art exploration and research equipment.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "Tamhae 3, constructed this time, will replace Tamhae 2 (2,000-ton class), which has been in operation since 1996, expanding the scope of seabed resource development from the continental shelf to the polar regions, and is expected to contribute to the national economy by securing domestic and international oil, gas, and mineral resources." Tamhae 2 is planned to be disposed of by selecting a receiving organization as Tamhae 3 officially begins operation in April next year.

Tamhae 3 is an exploration vessel capable of 3D seabed physical exploration and 4D exploration that detects changes in geological layers over time. Beyond seabed resource development, it is expected to play a role in various fields such as detecting seabed earthquake risk factors through domestic seabed fault investigation and analysis, and site selection for underground carbon dioxide storage.

Kang Kyung-sung, the 2nd Vice Minister who attended the event, said, "With the departure of Tamhae 3, a major national research infrastructure for seabed geological resources, it will greatly contribute to resource security, public safety, and the realization of carbon neutrality," adding, "It will be an opportunity to showcase the excellence of Korea’s shipbuilding industry to the world."

Hull design of Tamhae No. 3. Source=Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

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