Deep-Sea Mining Vessel

A deep-sea mining vessel is a surface production ship that recovers seabed minerals, principally polymetallic nodules from abyssal plains such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, through a riser and lift system feeding a collector vehicle on the seafloor. The activity remains developmental: no commercial-scale operation exists, and exploitation in the Area beyond national jurisdiction is governed by the International Seabed Authority, which has not finalized its exploitation regulations (the Mining Code). Existing vessels are converted drillships or bulk carriers fitted with vertical transport, dewatering plant, and dynamic positioning for station-keeping over the mining track.