The International Seabed Authority has entered into 15-year contracts for exploration for polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides in the deep seabed with thirteen contractors pursuant to resolution II of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.
Eleven of these contracts are for exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone with two contracts for exploration for polymetallic sulphides in the South West Indian Ridge and the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
A further four contracts are in the process of being completed.
The conclusion of contracts allow these contractors to explore specified parts of the deep oceans outside national jurisdiction.
Under the Regulations, each contractor has the exclusive right to explore an initial area of up to 150,000 square kilometers. Over the first eight years of the contract, half of this area is to be relinquished.
Each contractor is required to propose a programme for the training of nationals of developing States. The training programme, as agreed with the Authority, is incorporated into the contract as schedule 3.
Each contractor is also required to submit an annual report on its programme of activities.
Prior to the commencement of its programme of activities under the contract, each contractor is also required to submit to the Secretary-General a contingency plan to respond effectively to incidents arising from its activities in the exploration area.
The signature of these exploration contracts gives practical and real effect to the single regime for the Area established by the 1982 Convention and the 1994 Agreement and as such represents a significant step forward for the international community.
STATUS OF CONTRACTS FOR EXPLORATION FOR POLYMETALLIC NODULES AND POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES
A. Contracts for exploration for polymetallic nodules
Contractor | Date of entry into force of contract | Sponsoring | General location | Date of expiry | |
| Interoceanmetal | 29 March 2001 | Bulgaria, Cuba, | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 28 March 2016 |
| Yuzhmorgeologiya | 29 March 2001 | Russian | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 28 March 2016 |
| Government of the | 27 April 2001 | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 26 April 2016 | |
| China Ocean | 22 May 2001 | China | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 21 May 2016 |
| Deep Ocean | 20 June 2001 | Japan | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 19 June 2016 |
| Institut français | 20 June 2001 | France | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 19 June 2016 |
| Government | 25 March 2002 | Indian Ocean | 24 March 2017 | |
| Federal Institute | 19 July 2006 | Germany | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 18 July 2021 |
| Nauru Ocean | 22 July 2011 | Nauru | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 21 July 2026 |
| Tonga Offshore | 11 January 2012 | Tonga | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 10 January 2027 |
| Marawa Research | To be signed | Kiribati | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | |
| UK Seabed | 8 February 2013 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | |
| G‑TEC Sea | 14 January 2013 | Belgium | Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone | 13 January 2028 |
B. Contracts for exploration for polymetallic sulphides
Contractor | Date of entry into force of contract | Sponsoring State | General location | Date of expiry | |
| China Ocean Mineral | 18 November 2011 | China | Southwest Indian | 17 November 2026 |
| Government of the | 29 October 2012 | Mid-Atlantic | 28 October 2027 | |
| Government of the | To be signed | |||
| Institut français | To be signed | France | Mid-Atlantic |
Note: The documents referred to on this page under the symbol LOS/PCN are documents of the Preparatory Commission for the International Seabed Authority and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and are contained in the Provisional Final Report of the Preparatory Commission (LOS/PCN/153, Vols I - XIII). Because of the number of documents involved, it has not yet been possible to make these documents available on this web site.
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