Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (May 2026)

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Washington Watch

Subsea Mining © UD Family / Adobe Stock

Ocean Minerals Are Becoming a Real U.S. Opportunity

Momentum around critical minerals in Washington is no longer hypothetical.

Policymakers are now focused on practical steps to expand domestic access to the raw materials that underpin national security, advanced manufacturing, and modern energy systems. Ocean minerals are front and center of this conversation and the offshore industry is prepared to play a central role. Congressional attention is growing fast.

By Erik Milito, President of National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) tors, aircraft, ships, and data centers. Demand is rising as

A House Natural fast as electri? cation and AI-integration accelerate. Geo- political competitors – China above all – dominate large

Resources Subcommittee hearing recently examined regulatory barriers to deep-sea portions of the global supply chain, giving the U.S. strong mining and how to position American companies to lead, reason to develop reliable domestic and allied sources. We while a March 26 House Science, Space, and Technology have already seen these same competitors move aggressively

Subcommittee hearing focused on the strategic and eco- to expand their in? uence over international seabed gover- nomic stakes of U.S. seabed mineral development and re- nance and deepen their strategic presence in critical ocean ducing dependence on Chinese supply chains. Both hear- corridors, making U.S. action more urgent than ever.

ings draw the same conclusion: offshore minerals are now The United States has real offshore potential here. In a genuine Congressional priority. both the high seas and areas falling within U.S. domestic

Cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper, and rare earth ele- waters and those of its allies, signi? cant deposits of poly- ments are embedded in the technologies modern life de- metallic nodules, crust, copper-rich sul? des, other seabed pends on, including batteries, power systems, semiconduc- resources rich in critical minerals can be found. Develop- 12 | MN May 2026