BOEM Identifies Potential Offshore Mineral Leasing Area
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has completed the Area Identification step in BOEM’s Outer Continental Shelf mineral leasing process for potential critical mineral development offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Area Identification is the next step in BOEM’s regulatory framework and represents the identification of tracts to be carried forward for further leasing consideration and environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. It is not a commitment to lease and does not authorize any mineral development activities.The identification and
BOEM Releases Offshore Alaska Seismic Survey Data
In alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order 14303, “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region has released five 3D seismic survey datasets from the Beaufort Sea, expanding public access to legacy geologic information that supports industry analysis, academic research and Alaska energy planning.The five datasets — B-02-99-AK, B-05-98-AK, B-04-97-AK, B-03-96-AK and B-01-95-AK — are available now at the National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys. (To access, click the tab labeled “Surveys
Rising expectations: A deep dive on underwater vehicles
a non-negotiable requirement due to visibility constraints.”EnduranceThe performance and functionality of an underwater vehicle is only as impactful as its endurance, with customers across the board seeking longer deployments. While this isn't exclusively based on battery capacity—energy management and mission configuration are also factors—subsea batteries constitute their own rapidly involving industry, balancing energy density, safety, modularity and regulatory compliance.Many subsea batteries are lithium-ion (Li-ION), which offer an ideal balance between energy density, weight
BOEM Publishes Final Notice of Sale for Cook Inlet Lease Sale
As part of a broader effort to unleash American energy by encouraging oil and gas exploration and production on federal lands and waters, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the Final Notice of Sale for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 1. Officially authorized under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and commonly known as BBC1, this marks the first of six lease sales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet required by the legislation.“Regular and predictable federal leasing is the minimum standard for maintaining domestic energy production
BOEM Advances Offshore Minerals Planning Efforts in American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced key developments in its offshore critical minerals planning, with the completion of Area Identification offshore American Samoa and the release of a Request for Information and Interest for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.These actions mark progress in BOEM’s efforts to responsibly evaluate leasing opportunities for critical minerals on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, supporting U.S. manufacturing, national security, and economic resilience.These efforts further the directives in President Trump’s April 2025 Executive
ABB to Deliver NINVA Temperature Sensors to eMarine
ABB will deliver 1,500 NINVA non-invasive temperature sensors approved for marine use to eMarine, a Swedish company dedicated to enabling efficiency and sustainability in the maritime industry. NINVA will complement eMarine’s advanced energy management solutions already deployed on major cruise and cargo vessels worldwide.The data collected by the innovative NINVA temperature sensors will play a key role in optimizing heat recovery as well as the management of cooling water and ventilation systems onboard. The insights will enable lower fuel consumption, measurable energy savings, and reduced
Verlume, Kraken Robotics Establish Strategic Collaboration to Deliver Subsea Battery Solutions
Verlume, developer of subsea intelligent energy management and storage solutions for the offshore energy industry, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Kraken Robotics, developer of SeaPower subsea battery solutions, to deliver best-in-class subsea power storage. By integrating Verlume’s Axonn advanced energy management technology with Kraken’s high-performance subsea batteries, the partnership will provide reliable, efficient, and scalable power solutions capable of stabilizing offshore energy networks, enhancing subsea autonomy, and supporting the transition to low-carbon
BOEM Extends Public Comment Period on Minerals Lease Sale
On June 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced its intent to publish a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) for commercial leasing for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) seabed critical minerals offshore American Samoa. The Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) originally published the RFI in the Federal Register on Monday, June 16, 2025, initiating a 30-day public comment period.BOEM is extending the comment period until 11:59 p.m. ET on August 15 in response to a request from the Governor of American Samoa.“As we extend the comment
New AUV Helps Document Critical Minerals
the technology for the first time was part of a mission led by the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), based at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).As part of a larger expedition to expand knowledge of the seafloor, the OECI partnered with Orpheus Ocean to field-test their new AUV east of the Mariana Trench. The AUV successfully completed several dives to depths exceeding 5,600 meters (3.5
February 2026
