Deep-Sea Mining Equipment in China: Current Status and Prospect

Abstract

There are abundant mineral resources at the seafloor. These resources have rich varieties, vast reserves, high grade, and great development and utilization prospects. Countries in the world are accelerating the development of deep-sea mining equipment nowadays. This study analyzes the development status of the deep-sea mining equipment in China and abroad and investigates the deficiencies in technologies and equipment in China from the perspectives of fundamental scientific research, key technology development, and sea trial verification. Moreover, it summarizes the key scientific and technological issues to be resolved, and proposes the developing trends of deep-sea heavy operation equipment, ore transport equipment, and sea surface support vessels. We propose that deep-sea mining should adhere to the concepts of heavy equipment, collaboration, intelligence, and green development, and key technology innovation and independent research and development of the mining equipment should be promoted. Demonstration projects should be constructed for deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining to accelerate the development of deep-sea mining technologies and equipment, so as to realize large-scale sea trials, conduct system design for long-term operation, and promote commercial seabed mining.