Page 46: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2024)

Feature: Seabed Mining

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SEABED MINING

While seabed mining faces political and environmentalist backlash, developers move forward with tech designed to maximize ef? ciency and effectiveness, will minimizing environmental impact.

Belgium-based GSR, part of the DEME Group, has Trans- ocean as a cornerstone investor, and it conducted trials of a patented nodule collector, Patania II, at 4,500 meters in the

Clarion Clipperton Zone in 2021. Full-scale trials will be con- ducted in 2027. Patania II uses jet water pumps to lift nodules into a collection drum. Peer-reviewed research has indicated that released sediment-laden water led to a low-lying, laterally spreading turbidity current. Only 2-8% of the sediment mass was detected 2m or higher above the seabed and hadn’t settled after several hours.

Canada-based The Metals Company has partnered with All- seas which has a converted drillship, Hidden Gem, set up for nodule collection. Onboard technology developments include the vessel’s launch and recovery system (LARS) which deploys and recovers the collector and feeds its power and control um- bilical. It has passive heave compensation which nulli? es the wave, current and vessel motions that in? uence loads in the power umbilical. The LARS can operate in up to 3.5m wave height signi? cant. The physical connection and disconnection 46 September/October 2024

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