Steel cutting marks start of physical construction of Nautilus’ production support vessel

Steel-cutting has commenced for the construction of Nautilus Minerals Inc., production support vessel, to be used as a base for its seafloor operations. — Photo courtesy nautilusminerals.com

Toronto Ontario, September 28, 2015 - Nautilus Minerals Inc. (TSX:NUS, OTCQX: NUSMF) (the "Company" or "Nautilus") announces that the steel cutting ceremony for the Company’s production support vessel occurred on Friday, September 25, 2015. The vessel is to be used by Nautilus and its PNG partner, Eda Kopa (Solwara) Limited, as the base for its seafloor operations planned at the Solwara 1 Project, in the Bismarck Sea of Papua New Guinea.

The ceremony took place at the shipyard of Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd. It was attended by the General Manager of Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Limited, Mr Xie Rongxing, the Chairman, Mr Zhang Zhitong, and General Manager, Huang Yihao of Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd., Senior Vice President of Greater China (ABS), Mr Kwok-Wai Lee, Mr Robin Reeves, CEO of Marine Assets Corporation (MAC) and representatives from the MAC team. MAC will own and provide the marine management of the production support vessel, which will be chartered to Nautilus.

Mike Johnston, Nautilus' CEO, commented, "I am delighted that steel cutting has happened on schedule and in line with our plan to commence testing and initial production activities at Solwara 1. As we have now moved into the physical construction phase of the vessel, it was important to mark such a significant occasion. We have worked with Fujian Mawei Shipyard, MAC and others on our project for nearly a year now, and have established a very good relationship, which will continue over the coming years. Our objective remains to develop the world's first commercial high grade seafloor copper-gold project and launch the deep water seafloor resource production industry. With the eyes of the world waiting to see the dawn of this new industry, we look forward to taking delivery of the vessel in December 2017 to enable us to commence our seafloor operations in Q1 2018.”