Tamhae 3 is a new geophysical exploration research vessel belonging to the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM).
It is the country’s first multipurpose geophysical exploration vessel.
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KIGAM entered into a contract with shipbuilding company HJ Shipbuilding and Construction (HJSC) in January 2021, for the detailed design and construction of an exploration research vessel. The vessel is based on Ulstein Design & Solutions’ SX134 model.
Constructed domestically by HJSC at their Yeongdo Shipyard, Tamhae 3 is intended to replace the now-obsolete Tamhae 2, which was South Korea’s sole geophysical exploration research vessel.
The vessel’s steel-cutting ceremony took place in December 2021, followed by the keel-laying ceremony in September 2022.
The launching/naming ceremony for the new vessel followed by a test run occurred in July 2023.
The 3 geophysical exploration research vessel was delivered to KIGAM in May 2024 and a christening ceremony was held in July 2024.
The vessel embarked on its maiden exploration campaign in the same month.
Designed for a broad range of marine conditions, Tamhae 3 will operate from Korea’s continental shelves to the polar regions, thereby expanding South Korea’s capacity for comprehensive marine research.
Tamhae 3 geophysical exploration research vessel design and features
The Tamhae 3 geophysical exploration research vessel measures 92m in length, with a width of 21m and a gross tonnage of 6,862 tonnes (t).
It features an ice-class, ICE-1B-rated hull for polar navigation, a dynamic positioning system, noise control mechanisms, and an auto-navigation system.
The vessel has an operational range of up to 36,000km at a cruising speed of 15 knots, enabling coverage of both the North and South poles.
Additionally, the vessel features an X-BOW® hull line design from Ulstein that reduces slamming and vibrations, enhancing its suitability for research operations.
The design increases the vessel’s operability, reduces speed loss, and with its modern technology, ensures efficient operations with lower fuel consumption and a reduced environmental footprint.
Tamhae 3 will serve as a base for up to 30 researchers and will accommodate a crew of up to 20. It will be operated to meet the general requirements of the seismic and oceanographic research industry.
The new vessel’s operations will encompass deploying seismic streamer cables and seismic bottom nodes, high-resolution seafloor mapping, seafloor surveys, and sediment sampling.
Onboard technologies
The 3 geophysical exploration research vessel is equipped with a variety of advanced equipment onboard such as a 3D/4D seismic 8-streamer system, an air gun system, and a high-resolution 2D/3D seismic P-cable system.
The vessel also boasts a multicomponent ocean bottom node acquisition system, a marine gravity and magnetic system, multibeam and single beam echo sounders, and auxiliary equipment for in-sea acoustic sounding systems.
It can deploy up to eight seismic streamers, each up to 6km in length. It features seabed seismic exploration and high-resolution 4D monitoring capabilities.
The exploration vessel also incorporates a deep sea chirp sub-bottom profiler, an acoustic doppler current profiler, and a high-profile underwater positioning system.
Sediment samplers and geochemical analysis equipment are also available for onboard researchers.
Additionally, the vessel is equipped with a Seal 428 recording system, Sentinel® streamers, a Nautilus® streamer positioning system, and G-Source II high-performance impulsive sources from Sercel, a designer and manufacturer of high-tech solutions for subsurface exploration.
Areas of operation
Tamhae 3’s first exploration campaign commenced in June 2024 in the Gunsan Basin in the West Sea.
The mission’s objective is to discover undersea carbon dioxide reservoirs, contributing to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality through climate change mitigation.
The vessel will conduct joint exploration of oil and gas resources on the domestic continental shelf and carbon capture and storage monitoring exploration, as well as exploration of submarine resources worldwide.
Additionally, the vessel will be deployed for the identification of undersea geological disaster factors and the acquisition of undersea geological information.
Furthermore, the scope of exploration, including international joint exploration of Arctic resources, will be expanded.
Contractors involved
Propulsion systems design and manufacturing company, Finnoy Gear and Propeller, was contracted to supply a comprehensive range of systems, which included two 2G60-80E gearboxes, flexible couplings, complete shaft lines, silent CP propellers, fixed nozzles, and a fifth-generation remote control system.
Marine technologies provider, Kongsberg Discovery was responsible for installation and sea trials of the scientific equipment onboard the Tamhae 3.
Sercel was contracted to supply a marine seismic acquisition system for Tamhae 3 in June 2022.
