Future trends of deep sea bed mining technology

The present status of deep sea bed mining technology for polymetallic nodules has been critically examined in light of its history of development, the UNCLoS (the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea) regime and the current trends in research. The critical technologies have been highlighted and the need for system integration underscored. The deep sea bed environment and the engineering challenge were presented and the necessary features of the deep sea bed mining system for commercial mining was analyzed. The key accomplishments, problems and future trends in research in the development of the mining system are also discussed. Finally, it points out that the technology gaps can be filled by the time commercial mining is undertaken as a result of market conditions in its favor.