TMC, Allseas Ink Deal for First Commercial Deep-Sea Nodule Recovery System
the development and operation of what the companies said would be the first commercial deep-sea nodule recovery system.The agreement covers the development, commissioning and operation of a nodule collection system in preparation for offshore recovery operations in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.The commercial production system is designed for a nameplate production capacity of 3 million wet tonnes per year and will use two collector vehicles operating at depths of more than 4 kilometers, with nodules transferred to the surface vessel Hidden Gem.The system will also include launch and
Sonardyne's Fetch Positioning Technology to Support Deepsea Neutrino Detector
A new deep-sea neutrino detector being built to transform our understanding of the universe will use precise positioning from underwater technology company Sonardyne. An array of Sonardyne's Fetch instruments will provide the precise and stable underwater positioning the 3,000 m deep Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE) needs to accurately detect and analyze high-energy neutrinos. P-ONE, a multi-national, multi-institute scientific collaborative project, will help scientists to unlock insights into extreme cosmic phenomena like black holes and supernovae. The cosmic
NOAA Ship Rainier to Map Critical Mineral Deposits in Pacific US Waters
In early April, NOAA Ship Rainier will begin to map and characterize more than 8,000 square nautical miles of federal waters off Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. This project is part of the Department of Commerce's implementation of the U.S. Offshore Critical Minerals Mapping Plan, as described in President Trump’s Executive Order 14285: Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.Rainier is a hydrographic survey ship staffed by NOAA Corps Officers and professional mariners. The first survey leg will focus on mapping with multibeam echo sounders in
China Mapping Ocean Floor Ready for Submarine Warfare
of Defence and Strategic Studies. "They now have a reasonably good picture of the maritime domain they hope to operate in, either in peacetime or in war."Chinese researchers, similarly, see strategic value in their work. Zhou Chun, an Ocean University researcher who oversees the Indian and Pacific Ocean sensor arrays, was quoted last year in an Ocean University press release as saying that his work had shown him "the rapid development of my country's maritime defense and military capabilities." He didn't respond to Reuters questions.Going forward, Zhou pledged to "transform
China Maps Ocean Floor as It Builds Submarine Warfare Capability
of Defence and Strategic Studies. "They now have a reasonably good picture of the maritime domain they hope to operate in, either in peacetime or in war."Chinese researchers, similarly, see strategic value in their work. Zhou Chun, an Ocean University researcher who oversees the Indian and Pacific ocean sensor arrays, was quoted last year in an Ocean University press release as saying that his work had shown him "the rapid development of my country's maritime defense and military capabilities." He didn't respond to Reuters questions.Going forward, Zhou pledged to "transform
NOAA Determines TMC USA’s Seabed Mining Application is in Substantial Compliance
compliance with the requirements of the Act and its implementing regulations.Earlier this year, TMC USA submitted a consolidated application for an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit for polymetallic nodules in international waters of the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean. The application was filed under NOAA’s new consolidated application and review process and represents the first submission of its kind.It covers a ~65,000 km2 exploration and commercial recovery area in the CCZ, compared to a commercial recovery area of ~25,000 km2 in TMC USA’s initial
MacArtney Closes a Strong Year, Prepared for Continued Demand
several significant development initiatives and customer‑driven projects completed during the year. These projects demonstrate how MacArtney’s engineering and workshop capabilities, along with close customer collaboration, translate into practical solutions for complex projects.For the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE) off the coast of Vancouver Island, MacArtney engineered a one-kilometer subsea string that distributes power and data to 20 optical modules arranged in 50-meter sections. Designed for installation at a depth of 2,700 meters, the system is built to withstand 325 bar
The Metals Co Seeks International Deep Sea Mining Permit Under New Process
company hopes to obtain its permit by the end of the year, Barron said.London-listed miner and commodity trader Glencore has agreed to buy metals TMC extracts from the seabed.Under the new guidelines, The Metals Co resubmitted an application it had filed last April to operate in part of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.The company said two zones that The Metals Co has applied to operate in contain an estimated 800 million metric tons of rocks known as polymetallic nodules filled with critical minerals including nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese
Study: Low Sulfur Fuel Reduces Lightning, May Increase Temperatures
.“Due to the 2020 emission regulation imposed by the International Maritime Organization, we observed a decrease in sulfur emissions from ships after 2020,” he said. “With less sulfate aerosol emitted from ships, we observed darker clouds over the North Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Because clouds become darker, they absorb more solar radiation. Our previous studies imply that the decrease in shipping sulfate aerosols could be responsible for the record-breaking global warming temperatures in 2023 and 2024.”Jin said his future research will aim to better understand
February 2026
