Mining in Odyssey, part 2: Ships

• see also: Mining in Odyssey, Table of contents

In principle, you can totally dig on any ship, from the rookie ships, and to titans (the only exception - jump-freighter and freighter, but they generally have quite a big problem with fitting). However, here we will focus on specialized ships designed specifically for mining. For this purpose in the game there is a whole range of ships from the corporation ORE. Hereinafter, each of them in detail.

Venture

This mining frigate appeared not so long ago and immediately became popular.
Sets itself apart from all other ships ORE corporation that is available for free in one of the tutorial missions and on trial accounts. Among other advantages - two built varpstabs, bonuses for ore extraction and gas, and a large compartment for the ore. Under certain conditions it is possible to fulfill the dream of many students - earn for PLEX on trial account. Click here to see detailed description

Procurer & Skiff

Until recently rebalance these ships were not too popular (sometimes skiff was used as a "freighter for the poor" - it used to had two built varpstabs and decent cargo). However, during the rebalance these ships got powerful tank that is comparable to a tank of the BC/BS. They have just one strip-laser, but with ship bonuses it is digging for three. The ore cargo, of course, less than the retriever / mackinaw (see below), but still decent. As a rule, Skiff and Procurer miners use during the various game events, the purpose of which is their (miners) extermination. A striking example of this events is "halkogeddon" - events are regularly hosted by the Alliance Goonswarm.

Retriever & Mackinaw

At the moment - an absolute must have for fans to dig into the semi-afk. It has a decent enough tank and a huge cargo hold for ore, allowing continuously digging for half an hour or more for the weak skills (with perfect skills - about of 15-20 minutes).

Covetor, Hulk

Until recently, the Hulk was one of the most demanded ships it can be said that "for the digging was hulk, and there was everything else," but after the rebalance mining barges went by the wayside.
He still digs more ore than the rest (about 20% at perfect skills), but has a very small ore cargo (which is filled with a few minutes), and is noticeably inferior to Mackinaw and Skiff by tanking. Covetor - "little brother" Hulk, accordingly, it has less merit and more flaws. In fact, the only advantages Covetor before Hulk is less prerequisites and lower price.

Orca

This ship is not designed to directly digging - rather, support ship. Has a dedicated hold ore, an impressive cargo, ore cargo, fleet cargo, ship's hangar, and can also carry three gang-link, which give bonuses, and thereby increase the production of all the miners who are in the same fleet with the pilot of the Orcs. Role bonuses allow the ship to increase the efficiency of the mining gang-links to 3-15% (depending on the skills). It also is used extensively as a transport ship (in many Haidee can find a board to carry expensive items in the fleet hangar of Orca) , but after the recent changes (adding a scan of fleet hangars) ship lost some of their positions as freighter
In the ship's hangar (up to 400,000 m2), you can store any ships till Battle-cruiser inclusive what is often used: if necessary, you can put in your Orca barge to get out Drake, spend some time shooting, return to the place and continue mining on the barge.

Rorqual

It's a large-tonnage ship with all the attendant (expensive skill books, the inability to go to the gate, the impossibility of being in a high-sec, jumping only by cyno). Has a special mode of increased efficiency - Industrial mode. Can compress ore, substantially reducing its volume. It may also give out bonuses, and (in the Industrial mode), significantly more powerful than the orca. Just as the orca has a huge cargo hold under the ore, the corporate hold, and a hangar for ships, but unlike the Orca, in the ship's hangar you can't put whatever you want (only mining barges and industrial ships)

Outdated information

Until recently, there were ships with bonuses for ore extraction: Bantam, Osprey, etc., respectively, in the guide had recommendations on their use. In addition, it was proposed to dig Apocalypse, as he "digs just a bit worse than retriever, and has a much more tank". But, in the current circumstances you shouldn't do it, and here's why:
First, with all the frigates and cruisers was removed bonuses for ore extraction, but instead introduced Venture,  which has a huge advantages.
Second, it was added HP to Retriever, and noticeably increased the volume of mined ore. Now he's tanking is not much worse, than "miner's BS" and digs many times more.
In the third - a specialized ships has ore cargo, and can dig for a long time, while the ordinary have to constantly suffer from a lack of space
Fourth - Retriever is almost 10 times cheaper than battleship: Even if something goes wrong, it's not so pathetic.