By Hye-kyu Choi, Busan Ilbo Reporter (iwill@busan.com), Published April 25, 2023, 6:11 PM
GeoView DP 1 Departs from Busan
GeoView’s marine exploration vessel GeoView DP 1 departs from Busan Port. A launch ceremony and vessel unveiling event were held on April 25 at a pier next to the Busan Port Authority in Jung-gu, Busan. (Photo courtesy of GeoView)
For the first time, a privately operated, large-scale marine exploration vessel from a Busan-based company has set sail off the coast of Busan.
On April 25, GeoView, a marine exploration specialist headquartered in Busan, announced the launch of GeoView DP 1, its advanced exploration vessel. A public unveiling and departure ceremony took place at the pier near the Busan Port Authority.
Weighing 1,731 tons and capable of accommodating 30 passengers, GeoView DP 1 is equipped with state-of-the-art marine survey tools, including a 3,000-meter-class multibeam echo sounder (MBES, EM 712) by Norway’s Kongsberg and a 5,000-meter-class parametric sub-bottom profiler (SBP, Deep 36) by Germany’s Innomar.
The vessel will be deployed for marine exploration for the Haewooli Floating Wind Farm project in the waters off Ulsan, led by Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP), a Danish offshore wind development company.
A First for South Korea’s Private Sector
GeoView stated that, outside of research institutions like the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), this marks the first time a private South Korean company has secured a large-scale vessel dedicated to marine exploration. The company pursued this initiative to support offshore wind development, where marine exploration is a critical first step.
GeoView has a history of achievements in marine exploration. In 2019, it became the first South Korean company to export marine exploration technology to the Philippines. In 2021, GeoView conducted the marine survey for the subsea power cable project connecting Wando and Jeju. Last year, the company completed the marine exploration project for Equinor’s Firefly Floating Wind Farm in the waters off Ulsan.
Elevating the Standards of Marine Exploration
With the launch of GeoView DP 1, GeoView aims to raise the standard of South Korea’s commercial marine exploration market. The company also seeks to contribute to the emerging offshore wind industry in the country by offering precise site selection and seabed mapping capabilities.
Kim Hyun-do, CEO of GeoView, remarked, “Until now, marine exploration was dominated by global companies from Europe and the U.S. due to the lack of vessels, equipment, technical expertise, and experience in South Korea. Now, we at GeoView are taking charge of exploring our seas.”
