UKSR’s two International Seabed Authority (ISA) CCZ license areas cover approximately 133,000 km² of deep seafloor, an area comparable in size to Louisiana, covered in polymetallic nodules containing manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earths in a single ore.
The 65-day campaign is being run with Earth Sciences New Zealand (Earth Sciences NZ, formed from NIWA and GNS Science in 2025), a government-owned science organization, aboard the RV Tangaroa, one of the most capable deep ocean research vessels in the world. Earth Sciences NZ’s scientific team will join UKSR counterparts aboard the vessel, pairing institutional deep ocean environmental expertise with UKSR’s track record in CCZ exploration. This is UKSR’s fourth major research cruise to the CCZ. The campaign adds to an existing body of environmental and resource data, moving the company closer to the integrated dataset needed for commercial recovery. Environmental data and observations gathered during the mission will inform ongoing efforts to model and mitigate potential impacts of nodule recovery.
“We are delighted to work with Earth Sciences New Zealand as we continue our mission to explore the world’s most prospective seabed mineral deposits and shed new light on the deep ocean environment. UK2 is a particularly exciting area within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, and we look forward to sharing our findings, building on our commitment to transparency and already extensive contribution to marine science,” said Chris Williams, CEO of Glomar Minerals.
In May 2026, Glomar Minerals announced Project Infinity, a consortium agreement with Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited to build a domestic critical minerals processing facility in the United States. Project Infinity, which has narrowed to four finalist sites across Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas, is designed to refine polymetallic nodules and terrestrial cobalt into market-ready materials, creating an integrated value chain for seabed minerals while supporting a secure supply chain of critical minerals.
The data and samples collected during the campaign will feed into UKSR’s resource model and inform the environmental baseline supporting the path toward commercial recovery. This cruise is one of several milestones Glomar Minerals is advancing in 2026 as it builds a vertically integrated polymetallic nodule business—from the seafloor to the refinery.