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By Toru Yamasaki

"Bimodal lithostratigrafic assemblages are of significance in volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)-hosted lithology. The largest deposits are either bimodal-siliciclastic or maficsiliciclastic, and the presence of a significant siliciclastic component in the host stratigraphic succession favors large VMS deposits (e.g., Franklin et al., 2005; Barrie and Hannington, 1999). In the case of modern sub-seafloor VMS deposits in arc-related settings, the majority of deposits have been discovered in association with calderas or cauldrons (Halbach et al., 1993; Ishibashi and Urabe, 1995; Iizasa et al., 1999). These features are formed by the explosive eruption of silicic volcanoes, so that silicic host rocks and/or pumiceous volcanic clasts are generally observed around the ore deposits (e.g., Binns and Scott, 1993; Fiske et al., 2001). Caldera-like and graben-like morphological features therefore attract attention in geophysical surveys. However, silicic lithologies (dacite and rhyolite) normally contain only small amount of metallic elements (e.g., a few ppm to a few dozen ppm of Cu), whereas mafic rocks, such as basalts and basaltic andesites, contain significant amounts of metals (e.g., a few hundred ppm of Cu). Thus, the origin of metallic elements in VMS deposits associate with the silicic host rock remains unclear.The Iheya North Knoll is a volcanic complex in the middle of the Okinawa Trough. It is located in a young and actively spreading back-arc basin that extends for 1200 km behind the Ryukyu arc-trench system (Lee et al., 1980; Letouzey and Kimura, 1986). Several active hydrothermal fields have been recognized in the Iheya North Knoll. Mineralization at the Iheya North Knoll is characterized by relatively juvenile features consisting of VMS deposits with associated hydrothermal alterations to various degrees. Massive sphaleriterich sulfides at this site, recovered for the first time from beneath an active seafloor hydrothermal system, strongly resemble the black ore of the Kuroko deposits of the Miocene age in Japan (Takai et al., 2011). From February 11 to March 17, 2016, the SIP CK16-01 (Exp. 908) D/V Chikyu cruise was conducted at Iheya North Knoll and the rifting center of the Iheya Minor Ridge area, middle Okinawa Trough. The Iheya Minor Ridge area is also an active hydrothermal field, located ~30 km southeast of the Iheya North Knoll. In this area, basaltic rocks are widely distributed, and drilling has confirmed that the basaltic materials continue to ~120 m below the seafloor (Kumagai et al., in prep)."

Jan 1, 2017

By Wilfred Lus

Meaningful and real time environmental monitoring of marine tailings placement is a clear sign of deeper commitment to the people of PNG in regard to impacts of mining on coastal environment and marine life. Today daily mine wastes and tailings are increasingly being delivered to the seabed offshore of project sites in Misima and Lihir islands. Ramu and Simberi mining projects also plan to dispose tailings out at deep sea. As tailings leave the tailings pipe and come out into the seabed, concentrations of the cations and other potential harmful particles in the tailings stream need to be quantifiably monitored each day during the life of the refinery. For continuous monitoring of the tailing?s true chemical characteristics submarine cables connected with ocean floor observation systems consisting of deep-sea underwater video, and cation sensors and electrodes will be laid. Power transport to the tailings site and data transfer from the tailings site will be via opto-electric cables. Various data center instruments will record and manage the collected data. Observation data will be transferred in real time to stake holder?s data centers via a dedicated line from on-land stations, and then distributed to company offices and government establishments. Japan Marine Science and Technology Center, Telikom PNG, and Australian Institute of Marine Sciences will be the key advisers in this project. The main role of the observatories is to monitor and collect background seabed geochemical data prior to start of tailings disposal, during tailings disposal period, and after the life of the refinery.

Jan 1, 2001

By Ian J. Graham, Cornel E. J. de Ronde

New Zealand lies astride a convergent plate boundary that extends north-eastwards from the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) to Tonga. This boundary is marked by the Kermadec arc, c. 1200 km of which falls within New Zealand’s EEZ, and which is host to numerous volcanic edifices both on the arc and in a zone immediately behind the arc to the west. In 1999, thirteen volcanic centres in the southern 260 km of the arc were surveyed for their hydrothermal plumes with seven of them discharging vent fluids into the surrounding ocean. Three of the seven volcanic centres have had mineralised rocks recovered from them during dredging and submersible operations, namely Brothers, Rumble II West and Clark. Presentday plume data combined with mineralogical evidence indicate that the vent sites at Rumble II West and Clark are waning, although the presence of Cu-rich sulphides in samples recovered from Rumble II West suggest there may be a massive sulphide (Cu-Zn-Pb-Ba ± Au) deposit located within the caldera. Brothers volcanic centre is host to the largest polymetallic mineral deposit discovered along the Kermadec arc and has numerous, up to 7 m tall chimneys within a c. 600 x 200 m area located on its NW caldera wall. Geochemical data indicate that concentrations of base metals are variable and depend critically on sample type. When combined with mineralogical and plume data, this indicates addition of a magmatic fluid component to the vent fluids.

Aug 24, 2006

By G. B. Carpenter

The United Nations Law of the Sea (LOS) Convention includes provisions (Article 76) for establishing the outer limits of a coastal State's continental shelf and for denoting the seaward extent of sovereign rights over natural resources. Determination of a coastal State's continental margin, according to Article 76, must consider eight factors: 1. The territorial sea baseline 2. The 2,500-meter isobath 3. The foot of the continental slope 4. A line 200 nautical miles seaward of the territorial sea baseline 5. A line seaward of the foot of the continental slope connecting the points where sediment thickness divided by distance to the foot of the slope equals .01 6. A line 60 nautical miles seaward of the foot of the continental slope 7. A line 100 nautical miles seaward of the 2,500-meter isobath 8. A line 350 nautical miles seaward of the territorial sea baseline Figure 1 shows the preliminary limits for each of the Article 76-based definitions for a portion of the U.S. Atlantic continental shelf. The additional areas gained beyond the 200- nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are highlighted. The first three factors are baselines from which the distance provisions of Article 76 are measured. Factors 4-8 are distance- from-baseline provisions for establishing the continental shelf limits. Factor 5, also known as the Depth of Sediment Limit or "Irish Formula", was calculated using sediment thickness data from seismic linesand isopach maps. All other factors were determined from digital hydrographic data. The Depth of Sediment Limit is the most advantageous method for the area shown in Figure 1. It is especially useful for introverted coastlines such as the Georgia Embayment and New York Bight areas. The 200-mile line is advantageous for protruding coasts such as those off major capes, e.g., Cape Hatteras. The 2,500-meter isobath plus 100-mile line gains

Jan 1, 1995

By Peter A. Rona

Investigations of the Gorda Ridge within the proclaimed U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone off northern California and southern Oregon, and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge extending along the center of the Atlantic Ocean, have received new impetus from the discovery of hot black smokers, sizeable polymetallic massive sulfide deposits, and vent animals at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by the NOAA VENTS Program in 1985. Prior to that time, the oceanographic community focused investigations of seafloor venting at the faster-spreading oceanic ridges of the Pacific Ocean including the East Pacific Rise, the Galapagos spreading center and the Juan de Fuca Ridge because a consensus held that the faster spreading rates at these ridges were necessary to supply the heat to drive black smoker-type venting. As the only oceanic ridge in the Pacific with slow-spreading characteristics, the Gorda Ridge is an outlier of the slow-spreading ridge system that extends through the Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean comprising more than half the 55,000-kilometer-length of the globe-encircling oceanic ridge system. In response to recent discoveries at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge the oceanographic community is shifting more of its activity to investigation of hydrothermal venting and related processes at slow-spreading oceanic ridges. The discovery cruise by a team of NOAA and university scientists followed by

Jan 1, 1988

By Jung-Hoon Kang

Present study was stemmed from the survey associated with deep-sea mining in the KODOS area between Clarion Fracture Zone and Clipperton Fracture Zone located in the North Pacific Ocean. The study area, which is located in the southeastern part of North Pacific gyre, is oligotrophic waters with low nutrients and chl-a concentrations below 1µg/l (MOMAF, 1996). This area is also characterized by divergence at 8°N and convergence at 6°N, which moved northward or southward in the range of a few kilometers with seasonal and climate changes. If the waste materials related to deep-sea mining are intruded into the surface waters continuously, unexpected effects to water column ecosystem are anticipated negatively. In order to assess the impact on the planktonic ecosystem, natural variation need to be distinguished from anthropogenically induced variation in terms of the abundance and species composition of plankton. In this study, mesoscale variation of zooplankton community was reported in relation to the physical conditions in the northeastern Pacific during 1998 and 1999. Temperature and salinity were determined using a CTD from surface to 200m depth in July 3-20, 1998 and in June 22-July 1, 1999. Zooplankton samples were collected from two different depths (0-50m, 50-200m) by vertical towing using an opening-closing net (100cm diameter and 300 µm mesh size). The samplings were carried out at every one degree between 5° and 12°N (1998), between 5° and 11°N (1999) along the meridional lines of 131°30´ W. The net was lowered to the depth of interest from a stationary research vessel and towed upward to collect zooplankton at a speed of 25~30 m per minute. Zooplankton samples were transferred to 1-l sampling bottles and immediately fixed with neutralized formalin into the final concentration of 5%. Considering the characteristics of zooplankton such as diurnal vertical migration, all samplings were done during the nighttime. The volume filtered by the net was calculated from the readings of flow meter (Hydro-Bios Model 438-115). Zooplankton were identified to the genus level and enumerated under a microscope. The abundance of zooplankton at each station was expressed as the numbers/100 m3.

Jan 1, 2003

By Philomene Verlaan

This study examines the possible relationships between compositional variability in non-hydrothermal manganese nodules and large-scale environmental parameters. In the central SW Pacific (145-180° W and 20-O° S) the level of primary productivity, the rates and proportions of carbonate, silica and organic matter supply to the sediments, and the position of the seafloor relative to the Calcium Carbonate Compensation Depth (CCD) appear to directly influence nodule composition. Four zones of nodule composition are apparent. These zones correlate fairly well with the level of primary productivity in surface waters, as estimated by satellite-based measurement of chlorophyll content. The observed correlations between surface productivity and nodule composition are consistent with the contention that the dominant source of several transition metals in these deposits (i.e , Mn, Ni, Cu. and Zn) is provided by removal of fine-grained particulate matter from the water column by biological means. Subsequent decay of organic matter in sediments augments the content of these metals in the nodules through oxic and sub-oxic diagenesis. The opposite behavior of Fe and Co content may in part result from mineralogical and dilution effects.

Jan 1, 2000

By S. Hölz, M. Jegen, K. Reeck, A. Haroon

Past investigations of seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) focused on actively forming sites. New technologies are needed to explore for SMS deposits which have finished their active phase and are possibly covered by sediments or lava. For this purpose the new marine transient electromagnetic (TEM) induction system MARTEMIS was developed by GEOMAR. The system was used for investigations in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Palinuro Seamount) and at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (TAG area) and proved to be suitable for operations at shallow (~600m) and great water depths (~3600m) in steep and difficult terrain. Calibration measurements in the water column demonstrate that it is possible to acquire high quality data, which is fit to be evaluated in terms of inversions. However, these calibration measurements also demonstrated that great care has to be taken in the design of such an inductive coil system, because relatively small metal structures attached to the system may lead to significant static distortions in the measured transients. The interpretation of TEM data acquired at the Palinuro Seamount show a conductive layer in the vicinity of a previously drilled, buried SMS occurrence and serve as proof of principle of the system. Results also indicate that the conductive SMS unit is indeed a confined layer with limited thickness between 3 – 5m, which was not known from previous drilling. In a similar manner, results also hint at an unknown mineralization at depth in a second area of the Palinuro Seamount. Investigations by TEM measurements were accompanied by measurements of the ambient electric field (→ self-potential) and seafloor temperatures with a heatflow probe as well as direct sampling with a gravity corer. The areal coverage of measurements and sampling allow for a greatly enhanced view of the structure.

Jan 1, 2018

By V. K. Banakar

The occurrence of hydrogenous ferromanganese encrustations (Fe-Mn crusts) on the Cretaceous age Afanasiy-Nikitin Seamounts (ANS) in the eastern Equatorial Indian Ocean (EEIO) was first reported by Banakar et al. (1997, Marine Geology). The major element composition of the samples from the upper flank of the ANS (~1650 m water depth) indicated enrichment of Co up to 0.9 % (Parthiban and Banakar, 1999, Indian Mineralogist). Subsequently a project supported by the Department of Ocean Development to explore the ANS for Co-enriched Fe-Mn crusts was launched in 2002 by the National Institute of Oceanography. Sampling at regular depth intervals along two transects on the slopes of the northern elevated region of the ANS was carried out. The Fe-Mn oxide deposition is evident on almost all types of substrates viz., basalts, conglomerate limestone, fossil corals etc., and the thickness of the oxide layer varies from a patina to 7 cm. The Fe-Mn crust growth is evident only above a water depth of 3200 m, below which semi-lithified carbonate ooze is dominant. The ANS Fe-Mn crusts from all the water depths exhibit Mn/Fe < 1.5 suggesting pure hydrogenetic accumulation of metal-hydroxides. Bulk sample Ce-contents for a few selected depth-representative samples are remarkably high, up to 3700 ppm with an average of ~2500 ppm. The positive Ce-anomaly decreases from ~8 at 1600 m depth to ~1.6 at 3200 m depth, which is in contrast to the modern dissolved oxygen depth-profile in the region. This observation suggests that major time-period of the Fe-Mn crust accretion history is dominated by ambient waters with lower-oxygen at deeper depths than at the intermediate depths. This in turn probably suggests a major reorganization in the deep-intermediate hydrography of the region in the past.

Jan 1, 2005

By Siân E. Boyd

Studies of benthic recolonization in the aftermath of marine aggregate dredging in the U.K. and elsewhere are limited and are largely confined to experimental circumstances. Investigations of the physical and biological status of licensed extraction sites in the U.K. at various times following cessation of commercial dredging are very limited, and so judgments as to the likely progress towards environmental restoration and the time-scales involved continue to be based on predictions rather than real data. This field-based research programme was commissioned to enhance the understanding of processes leading to physical and biological recovery of the seabed following dredging, thereby aiding the identification of practices to minimize environmental harm at licensed sites, and to promote rehabilitation on cessation. The outcome of survey work will have the notable benefit of allowing questions about the present status of locations hitherto subject to commercial exploitation to be answered directly, rather than by inference.

Jan 1, 2002

By Nobuyuki Okamoto, Bhaskar Rao

For a period of twenty years - from 1985 to 2005 - the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) have jointly conducted surveys of deep-sea mineral resources in the EEZs of SOPAC’s twelve member countries. The overall Programme has obtained excellent results and has identified numerous sites with potential marine mineral resources of manganese nodules, cobalt-rich manganese crusts, and polymetalic massive sulphides. The survey cruises have identified numerous sites with potential marine mineral resources such as: manganese nodules in the Cook Islands; cobaltrich manganese crusts in the Marshall Islands, FSM, and Kiribati; and polymetalic massive sulphides in Fiji. Based on collected samples and acoustic data, inferred resources for manganese nodule, cobalt-rich manganese crusts, and polymetalic massive sulphides, have all been estimated to be about- 200 million tons in the central Cook waters- 200 million tons in the three seamount selected Marshall waters- and 500 thousands tons around the triple junction of the North Fiji Basin.

Oct 15, 2007

By Ian B. Clark

In October-November 1993, the Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland and University of Victoria jointly carried out reconnaissance surveys at Pine Cove, Baie Verte, Newfoundland. Pine Cove is the site of a multi-year study examining the environmental impact of a shallow water small-scale marine placer gold mining operation. The reconnaissance survey data collected will be used to develop a multi-year environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program for Pine Cove, Baie Verte, but more generally an EEM protocol for shallow water small-scale marine placer mining, which meets the requirements of Canadian government regula¬tors such as Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The Pine Cove mining operation is currently scheduled for the summer of 1995, and will use two mining methods: a hydraulic suction dredge in shallow water (<10 meters) operated by a scuba diver, and a hydraulically actuated clamshell dredge in deeper water (-30 m). A centrifugal concentrator will be used to extract the heavy minerals from the mined marine sediments, and the tailings will be returned to the sea floor via a suspended discharge pipe. The reconnaissance work at Pine Cove included geophysical, geochemical, oceanographic and biologi¬cal surveys, providing data which will enable prediction of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed mining operation. The geophysical surveys showed the sea floor to be covered by varying

Jan 1, 1994

By Andreas Kaede

INTRODUCTION Due both to the political history of UNCLOS and the sensitivity of the ocean floor and environment to man made impacts, both the Convention (including also the 1994 Amendment) and subsequent codification (such as the ISA draft code on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area) put a focus on information about, and conveyance of, technology employed by interested deepsea mining companies, to inter alia the Authority and developing countries. In contrast, companies usually are (or by their nature should be) interested in safeguarding their technology and business secrets in order to secure unique selling propositions in a competitive environment. On the background of the meanwhile maturing regulatory régimes on deep sea mining, the presentation will look into some of the key regulatory provisions mirroring these apparently antagonistic interests, how the players involved could deal with them, and how they might in some cases be reconciled. Progress of Presentation The presentation will start by briefly examining some classical methods of protection of technology, such as patents, copyrights, and (not the least) secrecy. It will be found that some of the statutory means of protection due to their territorial character may face problems in being implemented in areas outside national jurisdiction, such as the Area, but that, thinking globally, they nevertheless retain much of their value for the purpose of protection. Depending on available presentation time, a model case may be used to illustrate the above – and also some of the following – findings.

Jan 1, 2018

By Seung-Kyu Son

This study was investigated about physico-chemical parameter such as water temperature, salinity, inorganic nutrients and total organic carbon (TOC). CTD (Model: Sea-Bird 911 Plus) castings were carried out on two transects in the northeast equatorial Pacific Ocean. As a part of the Korea Deep-sea Environment Study (KODES), inorganic nutrients and TOC were determined at 41 stations located from 131° to 136°W along 10.5°N and from 17° to 5°N along 131.5°W (Fig. 1). We particularly chose KODES Long-term Monitoring Station (St. KOMO) to observe for the annually environmental baseline study in the contract area. [ ]

Jan 1, 2005

By S. E. Boyd

Studies of benthic recolonization following the cessation of dredging in U.K. waters and elsewhere are limited, and are largely confined to experimental circumstances. Investigations of the physical and biological status of licensed areas in the U.K. at various times following cessation of commercial dredging are very limited and so judgments as to the likely progress towards environmental restoration and the time-scales are often based on predictions rather than real data. This study was established to address this deficiency by assessing the status of seabed substrata and associated benthic fauna within and outside areas where dredging had ceased and to conduct follow up sampling to monitor progress towards full recolonization.

Jan 1, 2004

By B. S. Ingole, S. Jai Sankar, A. B. Valsangkar, R. Sharma, B. Nagender Nath, N. H. Khadge, P. A. Loka Bharathi

After the simulated ‘mining’ experiment (INDEX) in the Central Indian Ocean (in 1997); the restoration of benthic environment was monitored for 4 years (2001-2005) at 5 locations in and around the test site and at 3 reference stations (20-80 km) from the test site. A comparison of long-term monitoring data with the pre-mining and post mining observations has shown that: • The concentration of silt fraction which was the highest (50-60%) at most locations during ‘pre-mining’ and ‘post-mining’ phases, had reduced (40-50%) during monitoring phases. • There was a corresponding increase in clay concentration (50-60%) during the monitoring phase, implying change in the size of sediment particles settling on the seabed, a trend that was also observed at the reference locations. • The initial increase in water content and decrease in shear strength after the experiment, which appeared to be returning to normal in monitoring-1 (2001), was reversed during subsequent monitoring phases (2002-2005), indicating changes in benthic environmental conditions. • Sediment organic matter and pore-water chemical data have not only indicated partial restoration of geochemical properties after the experiment, but also cyclic changes during the monitoring period.

Oct 15, 2007

By Glen Smith

Nautilus Minerals, the world?s leader in exploration and development of deep ocean seafloor resources, is today focused on the recovery of high-grade copper and gold in seafloor massive-sulphide mineralization. These targeted mineralized belts, analogous to land-based volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, are located near plate boundaries in the back arc basins of the Western Pacific. The first deposit to be developed by the company is located at a depth of 1,600 meters at Solwara 1, in the benign waters of the Bismarck Sea. This location lies within the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea. From 2006 to 2009 the company completed detailed environmental and geological studies at Solwara 1, culminating in a number of world firsts, including the first Environmental Permit granted for the extraction of seafloor massive sulphide deposits and the first NI 43-101 compliant seafloor massive sulphide deposit resource statement. Nautilus has relied heavily on proven deepwater technologies from the oil and gas industry in the design of its production system. Pipeline trenching units, workclass ROVs, deepwater production risers and drill cuttings removal systems will be adapted to initiate this new and exciting industry. Key contractors used by Nautilus on this innovative project have all been selected for their deepwater experience (gained in the oil and gas industry), creativity and determination to launch this new industry successfully. Innovation is at the forefront of Nautilus? success to date. This paper summarizes the progress to date of this development which will provide a new source of minerals for the world and which will contribute to sustainable growth for the future.

Jan 1, 2010

By Richard H. T. Garnett

The Chilean part of the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, situated south of latitude 62o S, is within that country?s Región de Magallanes y Antártica, and separated from the remainder of Chile by the Magellan Strait. In recent geological history several phases of Quaternary age glaciers originating in the Andean and Dawinian Cordilleras eroded assumed primary gold deposits and entrained their related alluvial deposits. Piedmont glaciation extended to the east and south over m0st of the land and beyond the present-day coastline into extensive areas exposed during the resulting lowered relative sea level. During interglacials particulate gold incorporated unevenly in the widespread drift, till and moraines was fluvially released and concentrated into streams and flood gravels. Coastal erosion enriched various beaches with gold. From 1868 onwards Tierra del Fuego hosted a major gold rush whereby early, labour intensive, beach mining eventually developed into inland dredging. But continued mining activity was interrupted and then terminated by several external factors. Most miners, always seeking ?greener pastures?, joined the rush to the new discoveries in the Klondike (1896) and Nome, Alaska (1899). In 1904 the international boundary, established in 1881, became the subject of a major dispute not settled until 1984, The Panama canal?s opening in 1914 turned Tierra del Fuego, previously on the Pacific-Atlantic shipping route, into a remote backwater. World War II brought opposing foreign naval forces to the actual islands where most gold had been taken from the beaches. It also crippled the dredging industry which lost its coal supply and never recovered. Nevertheless, some small scale mining continues to this day.

Sep 14, 2011

An extensive ferromanganese nodule field south of New Zealand (Fig. 1) has existed beneath the flow of the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) and Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) for at least the past 15 m.y. West of 174°E, between 59°S and 48°S, the field is 300-500 km wide, but east of 174°E, where current flow impinges on the eastern slope of the Campbell Plateau, the field narrows from ca. 200 km at 55°S to ca. 120 km at 51°S. This narrowing coincides with deflection of current flow eastwards, and consequent reduction in bottom-current velocity and eddy kinetic energy. Based on sea floor photographs, dredge samples and 3.5 kHz profile data, six distinct seafloor substrates are delineated, forming broadly parallel zones eastwards from the lowermost Campbell Slope (Fig. 2).

Jan 1, 2003

By Boris Broere, Wiebe Boomsma, Pieter Lucieer

"The Blue Nodules project started February 2016 as part of the EU Horizon 2020 subsidy program. Blue Nodules aims at developing a sustainable deep sea mining system for the harvesting of polymetallic nodules from the sea floor. Blue Nodules is closely related to the Blue Mining and Midas projects, both EU subsidized projects. Blue Mining mainly concerned the development of technical capabilities to adequately and cost-effectively discover, assess and transport deep sea mineral deposits up to 6,000 m water depths. The MIDAS project - Managing Impacts of DeepseA reSource exploitation - was a multidisciplinary research programme investigating the environmental impacts of extracting mineral and energy resources from the deep-sea environment.The Blue Nodules project is divided in seven work packages defined to develop mining equipment and process equipment, to assess and integrate environmental, economic and technological aspects and to assess and minimize the environmental impact of mining polymetallic nodules.This abstract will address part of the work performed in the second work package called: ‘Subsea harvesting equipment and control technology’. The main topic addressed will be the development of a propulsion system to manoeuvre the harvesting system. The propulsion system will be developed with full incorporation of economical and compliance requirements and to have a minimal environmental impact.SummaryBased on information gathered in the 70’s during the first studies into polymetallic nodules mining and more recent data and developments, an initial full scale design of the propulsion system is developed. The largest challenge for the propulsion of a deep sea mining vehicle is to drive on the soft sediments associated with these deep sea environments. A short summary of the initial design criteria is given below."

Jan 1, 2017