A Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Potential of Ocean Mining Sites

Ocean mining is considered to be the new offshore frontier and has been the center of research and commercial focus over the past few years. The further development of the ocean mining industry posts challenges in many fields including engineering, economics, environment, law, logistics and supply chain. This research aims to understand the challenges and link these fields by developing a framework for assessing the potential of ocean mining sites. Seabed resources and associated exploration and exploitation technologies are reviewed. Based on this review, it identifies the most promising ocean mining sites, the massive sulphide deposits in inactive hydrothermal vents, along the oceanic ridge in the Exclusive Economic Zone. An online survey is conducted to obtain a broader academic and industrial view on ocean mining. The world’s first commercial ocean mining project developed by Nautilus Minerals Inc. is also analyzed as a case study. Based on the seabed resources review, online survey and case study, the major challenges in ocean mining are presented, covering engineering systems, environmental risk mitigation, economic feasibility, law, logistics and supply chain.