Odyssey Marine Exploration Welcomes New Executive Order for Deep Sea Mining
of proven leadership in ocean exploration and project development, Odyssey aligns with these national priorities through its active projects targeting battery metals (polymetallic nodules) and fertilizer-grade phosphates.Odyssey’s capabilities that align with the Executive Order:Track Record in Deep-Sea ExplorationGovernment and Industry PartnershipsProject Pipeline Across Strategic JurisdictionsProprietary ResearchExpertise in Regulatory Navigation and PermittingOn April 25, 2025, Odyssey took important steps to ensure the company’s flexibility to appropriately use its common stock to
Concerns for Deep Sea Ecosystems Heighten as US Opens Opportunities For Mining and Extraction
extraction, a new reflection paper co-authored by PML Honorary Fellow Torsten Thiele urges the International Seabed Authority to declare a moratorium/precautionary pause on such activity.The paper, titled "Delivering Benefits to Humankind: Opportunities for the International Seabed Authority under a Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium," has been published by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) and explores the “critical opportunities available to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the world under a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining."Torsten Thiele, Founder
Indian Firms Turn to Dutch Royal IHC for Deep-Sea Minerals Exploration
Some Indian mining and cement companies have approached Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC for technical assistance as they prepare to bid for deep-sea mineral blocks up for auction, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.In November, India launched the first tranche of auction for 13 offshore deep-sea mineral blocks, including three lime mud blocks, three construction sand blocks, and seven polymetallic nodule blocks.The blocks contain critical minerals, including cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel, which are vital for electric vehicles and solar panels.Bidding for the first tranche
ISA Elects Secretary General as Calls Grow to Pause Deep-Sea Mining
. Her four-year term as head of the United Nations-mandated body that regulates sea-floor mining will start in 2025.The appointment of Carvalho, who formerly worked for Brazil's oil regulator, could trigger a change in approach at the ISA.Carvalho told The Guardian last month that rules governing deep-sea mining will take time and that no mining application should be approved before they are complete.Canada's The Metals Company (TMC) has said it is seeking a license by year-end to extract minerals from the ocean floor.MEETINGSThe ISA last week finished a series of meetings in Kingston, Jamaica
MTR100: Deep-sea Mining May Prove Pivotal in the Climate Change Discussion
the need for significant technological advancement, and more technology means more materials. As natural resources for EVs, solar panels, batteries and countless other important products begin to wane on land, key stakeholders have begun to look below the waters for minerals and rare earth elements (REE).Deep-sea mining (DSM) arguably has become one of today’s most controversial marine activities. There is no denying that any human activity that requires taking resources from the earth is likely to cause damage—climate change and many of the environmental issues faced can be traced back to
TMC's NORI Starts Monitoring Environmental Impact of of Pilot Nodule Collection System Trials
. Researchers are using three dedicated moorings, current meters with acoustic modems to provide real-time seafloor current data and a large array of other specialized equipment which together, TMC says, represent the most extensive suite of instruments ever deployed for a single program in the deep ocean. Scientists inspect samples taken by a multicore which is used to assess the biological and chemical properties of abyssal sediments. - Credit: TMCTMC, Allseas Complete Initial Deepwater Trials of Polymetallic Nodule Collector VehicleThe current campaign requires the coordination of 250
Subsea Mining: Arctic Canadian Diamond, IHC unveil innovative Crawler
Arctic Canadian Diamond Company and IHC Mining report that they have reached the next important milestone in the development of the underwater remote mining (URM) system for the extraction of diamond-bearing kimberlite ore from deep open pits at the Ekati Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Arctic Canadian awarded IHC Mining with a contract to build and deliver an Underwater Mining Crawler for the URM system, a contract that follows the first milestone of the Launch and Recovery Platform being awarded by Arctic Canadian for the URM system, earlier this year. The platform is scheduled
Marine Minerals – A New Opportunity for Subsea Oil and Gas Technology
with a high safety level, high environmental focus. Norway’s legislation for Marine Mining is to a large degree built on oil and gas legislation. Norway is already engaged by ISA to help develop the international legislation for marine mining.“In addition, Norway’s strong expertise in deepwater oil and gas technology can directly be used and built on to develop a new industry around marine mining, with similar export opportunities as for the oil and gas sector.“The environmental aspect of marine mining will be a main focus area to ensure we fully understand the impact of marine
ABS AIP for Deep-sea Mining Riser and Lift System
ABS awarded China Merchants Industry (CMI) Approval in Principle (AIP) for its self-developed Deep-sea Mining Riser and Lift System.The AIP follows ABS awarding AIP for CMI’s deep-sea mining system design, which was the first since ABS published the Guide for Subsea Mining, detailing class requirements for the design, construction, operation, and survey of mobile offshore mining units in 2020. This latest AIP also refers to the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Subsea Riser Systems.“Deep-sea mineral extraction requires us to push the technological frontiers, going further and deeper and
February 2025
