Mining Platform nype US): using a 5000-ton hull , the mining platform is a non-starship intended for resource exploitation operations.
It has no jump drive, but mounts maneuver drive-W and power plant-W, giving a performance of 1-G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 1700 tons supports prolonged independent operations by the ship and its support vessels and vehicles. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/5. There are 175 staterooms and no low berths. The ship has 50 hardpoints, and mounts 50 single turrets fitted with pulse lasers used for mining; 50 tons are allocated for fire control.
There are fourteen ship's vehicles: one shuttle, one launch, two pinnaces, and ten prospecting buggies. Up to ten 100-ton seekers can also be accommodated on board. Cargo capacity is 30 tons, A 25-ton massdriver system and a 400 ton processing bay are also installed. The hull is unstreamlined.
The mining platform requires a crew of seven for interplanetary travel (pilot, navigator, three engineers, two medics): it also carries ten administrative and management personnel, and 132 workers, technicians, boat crewmen, and others. Quarters for 175 are provided, allowing 36 passengers (crewmen from the seekers, company officials, etc,). The ship does not engage in commercial passenger service. The mining platform costs MCr1330.7 [including the 1 % naval architect's fee, but not including costs for ten seekers, which are optional) and takes 36 months to build.
Mining platforms are transported from one system to another in bulk carriers. Once they arrive in a system, they usually remain there for the rest of their useful service life, and are eventually sold to interested parties or broken up for spares and scrap.
