First Deep-Sea Mining Company Asks Trump for International Permit
are already lining up to mine U.S. waters.Vancouver-based The Metals Co asked the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a commercial recovery permit under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 to operate in part of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.The application was timed to coincide with a Tuesday hearing on deep-sea mining by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee at which Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Co, testified."America has an urgent need for critical minerals. It needs
MMA Students Complete Real-World Training in Hawaii
Cadets from Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) have completed a Geological Oceanography field course in Hawaii, an innovative experiential learning course 8,000 kilometers from their Cape Cod campus.Eleven students, majoring in Marine Science, Safety, and Environmental Protections (MSSEP), participated in a rigorous, hands-on educational journey to Hawaii from January 3 to January 17, 2025.Shortly after arrival they were taken to Kilauea caldera to observe a 200-foot-high lava fountaining eruption. They then went on day-long hikes through volcanic terrane.In subsequent days, students snorkeled in
Trump Order Fast Tracks Subsea Mining
, and enforceable regulatory pathway available under existing U.S. law, we look forward to delivering the world's first commercial nodule project, responsibly and economically," said Gerard Barron, CEO of the company, which aims to extract nodules from a vast plain of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.Beyond The Metals Company, others eyeing deep-sea mining include California-based Impossible Metals, Russia's JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya, Blue Minerals Jamaica, China Minmetals, and Kiribati's Marawa Research and Exploration.U.S. access to critical
All American Marine Delivers Cal Poly Humboldt Catamaran
vessel will serve as a scientific exploration platform and support faculty research along the Northern California and Oregon coasts.Designed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design, the RV North Wind builds on the proven success of similar research vessels, including the R/V Shackleford and the University of Hawaii’s R/V Imua.Constructed to US Coast Guard Subchapter T standards, it is optimized for near-coastal and offshore operations, supporting Cal Poly Humboldt’s research initiatives in oceanography, marine ecosystems, and the emerging offshore wind industry.The vessel is powered by twin MAN
Cook Islands Deal with China on Seabed Mining Spurs Protest
release of all the pacts signed on the trip.The neighbouring government would need to analyse the contents of the pact released on Monday and its implications for New Zealand and the people of Cook Islands, whose government it intends to engage with in the coming days, he added.Situated halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, the self-governing Cook Islands can interact with the international community as an independent state.The neighbours have committed to consulting on security, defence and foreign relations. New Zealand also provides some budget support and commits to defend the people, who are its
Integrated Data System for Coral Reefs Enables AI Analysis
Musfera Jahan.Coral reefs make up just 1% of the world’s ocean area but they host 25% of all marine life.The technology will bring together datasets from organisations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) and Australia’s CSIRO.The study has been published in the journal Electronics
US Navy Divers Get Augmented Vision Display
to help them navigate underwater and maintain smooth communications with the surface.Approximately 15 DAVD systems are currently being used by nine naval commands — and have played important roles in both naval and non-naval operations. For example, in the aftermath of the 2023 wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, Navy divers used DAVD to locate 26 boats that had sunk along a marina during the disaster.Navy and Coda Octopus engineers also employed the DAVD 3D sonar systems to assist in salvage efforts after the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. And DAVD was instrumental in
NOAA Expands Water Level and Wave Dataset
flood risks so they can better prepare and respond to future events.”NOAA scientists will integrate CORA’s historical datasets into existing products, including the Sea Level Calculator and High Tide Flooding Outlooks.NOAA plans to release Coastal Ocean Reanalysis datasets for the West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska by late 2026
Lending Oceans a Robotic Hand
;s Deep Dive podcast, released this week, takes up the challenge. Rhonda Moniz speaks to oceanographer Dr. Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist at Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), about the role that mapping plays in maintaining a balance between human activities and protected areas.Growing up in Hawaii, she was drawn into the marine research work by her close association with the ocean as well as by her childhood fascination with Jacques Cousteau and American astronauts.Today, her focus is on understanding and managing the marine environment. 90% of the ocean is over 200 meters deep, and only 0
February 2025
