• Focusing on deep sea mining projects in a holistic way
• Analysis of existing and proposed seabed mining and processing systems
• Looking at seafloor production equipment, vertical transport systems, as well as metallurgical processing
• Addressing the issues regarding environmental studies and looking for more efficient solutions

• The UK’s subsea background – the experts in subsea technology development
• New challenges presented by deep sea mining – differences and similarities to established industries
• Technologies and capabilities within deep sea mining throughout the UK

"See what modern seafloor mineral exploration looks like using the latest technologies and how the NOC's approach might inform future industrial practice and regulation"

• Results from a recent expedition in the north and south Atlantic region testing new technologies
• The first and only deep-sea experiment which researchers generated a sediment plume and mapped its distribution
• Development and trials of autonomous underwater vehicles, ROV-drilling campaigns and deep-seafloor technologies
• New methods for rapid exploration and assessment of deep sea minerals and environmental impact

• The British Geological Survey‘s RD2 drill has a capability to work in water depths of up to 4000 m
• Advances in technology enable the drill to take downhole geophysical logs, fluid samples, and video footage
• Case studies include coring on the Mid Atlantic for IODP (Atlantic Massif) and for a Blue Mining EU-funded project

• Delivering substantial value through transforming inspection and environmental monitoring with autonomous machines
• Inspection and environmental monitoring with the use of autonomous surface vehicles, microAUVs and crawlers
• Understanding the business case through recent successes and results from trials

• CAPEX, OPEX and budgets for technology
• Significance of water depth, minerals and geology
• Technology for Deep Sea Mining vessels
• Fit for Purpose solutions for vessel design
• Areas for future developments

• Lifting of slurry from the seabed crawler to the host vessel is critical to the mining system
• The long and heavy riser can suffer from resonance response issues under certain operating conditions
• Looking at pump or riser selections and the response issues and the solutions to these problems

• Development of deep sea mining technology is already challenging
• A successful implementation, however, requires focus on other constraints as well
• Resource determination, economic evaluation, sustainability issues and an available legal framework should be integrated simultaneously with technology development
• Using these different angles, a template is shown as prerequisite for successful deep sea mining development

• Exploring and mapping the seafloor across the mid-ocean ridge
• New discoveries and exploration of deep-sea hydrothermal systems
• Looking at seafloor massive sulphied (SMS) distribution in the region

• A UN licence will encourage collaboration between the UK research community
• Achieveing a strengthened supply chain to support the developing deep sea mining industry
• A long-term commitment to research in understanding deep sea mineral deposits, the associated habitats and environmental aspects, and to encourage the development of novel technologies in the UK.

• A robust understanding of the sensitivities of the seabed environments and the impact of mining activities
• Evidence-based studies supported by field data that investigate the possible effects in response to specific mining operations
• An overview of the MarineE-Tech project currently being led by NOC and funded by NERC

• A review of those Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) produced for projects to date
• Understanding what must be included within EIA's for deep sea mining projects
• The assessment process and addressing the cumulative and in-combination effects

• The prospect of African States’ engagement with deep seabed mining activities
• Reviewing existing constraints and looking at the possible opportunities and risks
• Developing an African Regional Legislative and Regulatory Framework using the Pacific framework (RLRF) as a model
• Enabling African States interested in DSM to meet their obligations under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS)

• How do the jurisdictions of the International Seabed Authority, sponsoring State, and flag State interact?
• Are there situations where regulatory oversight for mining in the Area might be absent, or overlap?
• Is the extent of an ISA contractor’s liability clear?
• As we contemplate the onset of mining beyond national jurisdiction, this presentation will highlight potential gaps, overlaps and ambiguities in the liability regime.

• Addressing the commercial risks for equity investors
• Accessing debt and addressing the commercial risks for debt providers
• The key legal risks to consider and mitigate when structuring successful projects

• The key principles governing the fiscal regime for deep sea mining in national jurisdictions and in the Area
• Comparing the fiscal regimes for deep sea mining across different jurisdictions and the instruments that could be used to tax deep sea mining
• Looking at the difficulties in administering the taxation of deep sea mining in the Area, particularly auditing rights and the valuation of nodules
• How environmental considerations and the 'Common Heritage of Mankind' should influence deep sea mining taxation

• The perspective of the private investor investing in DSM companies
• Looking at the investment evaluation tools used by the private investor
• Private investor financing across the main phases of commercial Deep Sea Mining activities