"Protecting the 7th Block"... 7,000-ton 'Research Lab on the Sea' Tamhae 3 Sets Sail

June 6 Morning Jinsu-Myungmyeong Ceremony Held
Global Seafloor Resource Exploration Possible
Continental Shelf Oil and Natural Gas Exploration

South Korea has newly constructed a state-of-the-art large-scale exploration vessel to conduct seabed energy resource exploration worldwide. Attention is focused on whether it will be utilized for the exploration and development of Block 7 (south of Jeju Island), where large-scale oil and natural gas deposits are expected, and territorial disputes with Japan and China are anticipated.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) held a launching ceremony on the morning of the 6th at HJ Heavy Industries in Busan for the 6,926-ton vessel 'Tamhae 3,' capable of conducting seabed energy resource exploration across all ocean areas worldwide. Tamhae 3 is called a research institute on the sea and can perform cutting-edge 3D and 4D physical surveys.

A total project cost of 186.8 billion KRW was invested. The name Tamhae 3 (RV: Research Vessel Tamhae 3) originates from the first Tamhae (探海: meaning exploring deep into the sea) vessel built in 1977. The only domestic physical survey research vessel currently in operation, Tamhae 2 (built in 1996), continues the legacy of South Korea’s seabed geophysical exploration.

Tamhae 3 can perform three-dimensional seabed physical surveys to identify seabed geological structures, promising resource layers, and deposit characteristics. It carries out marine elastic wave 4D surveys to detect temporal changes in strata, clarifying the distribution of oil and gas and selecting subsea geological storage sites for carbon dioxide. In particular, in line with the goal of enhancing national seabed resource exploration capabilities, it is equipped with an 8 trillion-scale, 6 km-long elastic wave receiver streamer that can measure an area four times larger and more precisely than the existing Tamhae 2. It also features icebreaking and dynamic positioning functions for polar explorations such as the Arctic. Compared to other comprehensive research vessels, it has an exceptionally high ratio of exploration equipment, truly making it a research institute on the sea.

Following the recent discovery of seabed rare earth elements in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean, KIGAM expects that by utilizing Tamhae 3, it will secure information on rare earth deposits in seabed sediments across the Pacific and contribute to diversifying the rare earth supply chain by selecting precise exploration candidate sites for rare earth resource development. It is also anticipated to be a leap forward in raising South Korea’s seabed resource exploration technology level by expanding the scope of marine resource development to continental shelves and polar regions. Additionally, it is expected to have added benefits such as developing new geophysical exploration technologies and contributing to the national economy through securing domestic and international oil, gas, and mineral resources.

Tamhae 3 is scheduled to officially commence service in April 2024 after sea trials. Recently, active discussions have been held regarding seabed resource development and research, including cooperation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) exploration, and joint Arctic Ocean exploration. Especially, foreign institutions and private companies related to seabed physical surveys have shown keen interest in leasing and utilizing Tamhae 3.

Lee Pyung-gu, President of KIGAM, said, “From next year, Tamhae 3 will enable seabed geological and physical surveys in all ocean areas worldwide,” adding, “I am confident it will become a world-class scientific and technological national representative research institute on the sea, showcasing the excellence of South Korea’s seabed energy resource exploration technology to the world.”

Meanwhile, Tamhae 2, which has served as the only domestic physical survey research vessel conducting seabed resource exploration for the past 27 years since its commissioning in 1996, will be retired at the end of this year. It is planned to be transferred free of charge through a public offering process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.