A pumping system for pumping a medium is described. The system comprises: at least one transverse pressure exchange chamber, but preferably multiple pressure exchange chambers. Each pressure exchange chamber has a valve arrangement at each end. The system also includes a pressurised discharge at a delivery end of the system and a filling mechanism operable to fill the pressure exchange chamber with the medium. A positive displacement pump is operable to pump a driving fluid in direct contact with the medium so that the medium is pumped from the pressure exchange chamber to the pressurised discharge. A method of pumping a medium is also described.

An alternating stepping deep-sea mining system and method based on a clean energy platform are provided. The platform comprises a main hull, a mining system, a mooring system and an electric propulsion apparatus. The middle of the main hull is provided with a workshop. The mining system comprises a plurality of mining vehicles, and the plurality of mining vehicles are placed in the workshop. The mooring system comprises winches, anchor cable cabins, anchor cables and anchor heads. The winches are arranged at four corners of the top of the main hull, the anchor cable cabin is arranged below each winch, and the anchor cable has one end connected to the winch and the other end connected to the anchor head. The electric propulsion apparatuses are arranged at the front end and the rear end of the bottom of the main hull.

An alternating stepping deep-sea mining system and method based on a clean energy platform are provided. The platform comprises a main hull, a mining system, a mooring system and an electric propulsion apparatus. The middle of the main hull is provided with a workshop. The mining system comprises a plurality of mining vehicles, and the plurality of mining vehicles are placed in the workshop. The mooring system comprises winches, anchor cable cabins, anchor cables and anchor heads. The winches are arranged at four corners of the top of the main hull, the anchor cable cabin is arranged below each winch, and the anchor cable has one end connected to the winch and the other end connected to the anchor head. The electric propulsion apparatuses are arranged at the front end and the rear end of the bottom of the main hull.

A system for seafloor mining comprising a vertical riser anchored to the seafloor; a mining machine to deliver seafloor ore to the vertical riser; a lifting system to pass the ore through the vertical riser; and a transport vessel removably connected to the vertical riser to receive ore from the vertical riser.

A system for seafloor mining comprising a vertical riser anchored to the seafloor; a mining machine to deliver seafloor ore to the vertical riser; a lifting system to pass the ore through the vertical riser; and a transport vessel removably connected to the vertical riser to receive ore from the vertical riser.

A mining system includes: a vessel for processing mined ore, an upper platform coupled with the vessel, a lower platform supported by the ocean floor, a number of transport cables which extend between the upper and lower platform, and a container for containing ore which container is fixedly coupled to a container transporting cable such that the container moves vertically with the container transporting cable to transport the container in a container trajectory extending between the upper and lower platform.

A mining system includes: a vessel for processing mined ore, an upper platform coupled with the vessel, a lower platform supported by the ocean floor, a number of transport cables which extend between the upper and lower platform, and a container for containing ore which container is fixedly coupled to a container transporting cable such that the container moves vertically with the container transporting cable to transport the container in a container trajectory extending between the upper and lower platform.

A subsurface mining vehicle and a method are used for collecting mineral deposits from a sea bed at great depths and transporting the deposits to a floating vessel. The vehicle has a load-bearing structure having an arrangement for advancing the vehicle on the sea bed, and a pick-up unit for the deposits. A lifting frame is also provided and at one end equipped with a connector to connect to a suspension cable provided between the floating vessel and the vehicle. The lifting frame is at another end connected to the load-bearing structure by a hinged connection, that is actuated by an actuator such that the angular position of the load-bearing structure can be fixed in a number of different angular positions relative to the lifting frame while the vehicle is suspended. The lifting frame allows to launch and position the submarine vehicle in a controlled manner.

A subsurface mining vehicle and a method are used for collecting mineral deposits from a sea bed at great depths and transporting the deposits to a floating vessel. The vehicle has a load-bearing structure having an arrangement for advancing the vehicle on the sea bed, and a pick-up unit for the deposits. A lifting frame is also provided and at one end equipped with a connector to connect to a suspension cable provided between the floating vessel and the vehicle. The lifting frame is at another end connected to the load-bearing structure by a hinged connection, that is actuated by an actuator such that the angular position of the load-bearing structure can be fixed in a number of different angular positions relative to the lifting frame while the vehicle is suspended. The lifting frame allows to launch and position the submarine vehicle in a controlled manner.

A dredging system for removing submerged granular material from a bottom surface is presented. The dredging system comprises a dredging robot for removing granular material and a docking station for offloading removed granular material from the dredging robot. The docking station is attached and fixed in connection to the bottom. The dredging system further comprises a riser pipe for transporting removed granular material from the docking station to a remote location. A method for dredging of submerged granular material is also presented.