India Signs Deepsea Mining Exploration Deal with International Seabed Authority
India has signed a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority for exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean, the government said on Saturday.Polymetallic sulphides, which form around hydrothermal vents on the seafloor, contain high concentrations of metals such as copper, zinc, gold and silver - essential for clean energy technologies, electronics, and other high-tech applications.India is the first country to hold two ISA contracts for polymetallic sulphides. An earlier agreement with the United Nations body, which regulates mineral exploration and exploitatio
Exploring Ocean Canyons, SOI Strikes Again with Groundbreaking Research
First High-Tech Exploration of Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon, Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Remotely Operated Vehicle SuBastian shines light on an offshore canyon in Argentine waters nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon — capturing images and video of 40 suspected new species, coral fields, and a seastar that resembled a famous cartoon character.An Argentinian-led expedition on board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) has captured the attention of millions, inspiring a predominantly Argentine audience with live video feeds from the deep seafloor. Over the
Fugro Finds Partners for New Subsea Assets Data and Monitoring Platform
Fugro has formed a partnership with DTACT, a high-tech software company, and Ubotica, a specialist in AI-powered satellite intelligence, to develop a data fusion and intelligence platform for critical subsea infrastructure.The solution will be designed to provide government organizations with the information needed to strengthen national security and safeguard critical underwater infrastructure.Underwater pipelines, communication cables, and other subsea assets are essential to modern society, supporting global economies and daily life. Threats to this vital infrastructure can severely disrupt energy
Japan to Begin Test Mining Rare-Earth Mud in Early 2026
of rare-earth-rich mud at depths of 5,000 to 6,000 meters within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Minamitori Island, Ishii said.The mud is believed to contain dysprosium and neodymium, which are used in electric vehicle motor magnets, as well as gadolinium and terbium, used in various high-tech products, Ishii said.Pipes from a deep-sea exploration vessel operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) will be used to extract the mud, which will then be transported to the mainland for analysis to determine its rare earth content.If successful, the project
Greensea IQ Appoints Sea and Land Technologies As Southeast Asia Representative
line of Autonomous Underwater Ground Vehicles (AUGVs) across Southeast Asia.Under the agreement, SALT will represent Greensea IQ’s Bayonet products in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, and Laos.SALT, based in Singapore, is a trusted supplier of high-tech solutions for the marine, offshore, and defense industries. With experience in representing sensor and robotic technologies, SALT will provide local sales, integration support, and customer engagement for Greensea IQ’s Bayonet vehicles—subsea crawlers built for operations in surf
Upscaling Power Subsea: Cables and Connectors
Cable and connector manufacturers are rushing to meet the growing demand for subsea cables and connectors as renewables upscale, but whether it’s renewables or oil and gas, there’s also growing demand for high-tech subsea communications.The export cables that bring offshore wind power to shore are already so massive that one meter of cable can weigh 300kg. Nexans had previously upscaled its production facilities to cater for increasing demand; now it is upscaling its HVDC cables, typically 400kV, to 525kV. The company will be supplying at least 10 of these cable systems to European grid
Fincantieri Presents Underwater Segment, Revenue Expected to Reach 920 Million in 2027
activities.Today, the underwater domain is a strategic area for security, energy, environmental monitoring, and underwater communications. Fincantieri aims to be a leading player in the development of this new strategic infrastructure, leveraging its ability to integrate complex capabilities and high-tech industrial assets. To oversee this transformation with consistency and vision, the Group has established the Underwater Technology Hub, an integrated industrial structure that coordinates all civil, military, and dual-use system activities through a single command capable of ensuring market presence
SMD and Beam Go Deeper for AI-Driven Autonomous Offshore Wind Inspections
High-tech offshore wind services provider Beam has bought Quantum EV remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from SMD, setting out plans to equip it with an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven system to improve its operational scope and offshore wind farm servicing.Beam’s SubSLAM system, running on Pathfinder software, will be added to the ROV, enabling AI-driven autonomous piloting in deeper, harsher waters.By combining SubSLAM’s localization, AI and mapping technology with Quantum EV’s high-current performance, vital progress will be made towards improving the efficiency of offshore wind
Next Geosolutions Buys Offshore Survey Vessel for $7M
Class II (DP2) system and diesel-electric propulsion that will raise the Italian flag and be operational from the first quarter of 2025.The ship will undergo refitting work, with an additional investment estimated of up to $5.2 million, in order to make it even more efficient and functional for the high-tech activities for which it is destined“In light of the company's growth, the acquisition of this new vessel asset represents an important opportunity for the group and is part of our growth plans to expand our owned fleet with vessels carrying out specific activities pertaining to the
August 2025
