A device for launching subsurface mining vehicle into a water mass from a docking well of a floating vessel, and/or recovering said vehicle from the water mass is disclosed. The device comprises a docking frame that is hinge mounted to the vessel, and that comprises first mining vehicle engaging means for guiding the mining vehicle along a longitudinal direction of the frame into the water. The docking frame operatively engages with drive means for tilting the frame in a vertical plane between a substantially horizontal mining vehicle docking position and a substantially vertical mining vehicle launching or recovery position. The device further comprises third engaging means for guiding the mining vehicle when the vehicle extends at least partly underneath a base of the vessel. The device allows lowering or recovering subsurface mining vehicle in a controlled manner.

An excavation apparatus (5), such as an underwater excavation apparatus and/or a controlled flow excavation apparatus, comprises a rotor (10) comprising a plurality of first rotor blades (12) and a plurality of second rotor blades (14). The second rotor blades are provided between adjacent pairs of first rotor blades. The first rotor blades (12) define a plurality of primary rotor blades of the rotor (10). The second rotor blades (14) define a plurality of secondary, splitter, rotor blades of the rotor (10).

A seabed-resource lifting device causing deep-sea mud that contains rare-earth elements to rise from depths of 5000 m or more. This seabed-resource lifting device includes: a transport hose that includes a first hose and a second hose and that hangs from a resource-recovery vessel to the seabed; a crawler-type collector that includes a first suction chamber that sends mud from the seabed to the first hose, and a second suction chamber that sends mud from the seabed to the second hose; a water electrolyzer that, using electricity supplied from the resource-recovery vessel, electrolyzes water so as to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and a gas-injection device that injects the generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas into the first suction chamber and the second suction chamber, respectively. Mud that contains rare-earth elements rises with sea water due to the buoyancy of the hydrogen gas or oxygen gas.

An environmentally-friendly semi-closed loop deep-sea ore hydraulic lifting system, comprises a water injection pump, a water injection riser, a deep-sea multiple high-pressure silo feeding device, a lifting riser, a dewatering device and a pipeline. The water injection pump and the dewatering device are fixed on a mining ship. The water injection pump is connected to the deep-sea multiple high-pressure silo feeding device through the water injection riser. The deep-sea multiple high-pressure silo feeding device is connected to the dewatering device through the lifting riser. The water injection pump is connected to the dewatering device through the pipeline. Seawater is pumped into the water injection riser by the water injection pump, then ore is fed into a high-pressure hydraulic pipeline by the deep-sea multiple high-pressure silo feeding device to be mixed with the seawater, and an obtained ore and seawater mixture is lifted to the mining ship on the sea surface.

Marine pump vessels and wing fluidizer support vessels, and methods of using same. Wing fluidizer support vessels are configured to deploy a wing fluidizer including thrusters capable of fluidizing sediments from a first seabed location and moving it to a second seabed location. Pump vessels include one or more pumps deployable from a separate vessel and stowable thereon.

The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method for harvesting objects from the bottom of aquatic environments. The invention preferably provides a system, apparatus, and method for utilizing swarms of autonomous harvesting vehicles to harvest polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor.

The present invention relates to a system and its equipments to collect mineral ores on the seabed and to float them up to the sea surface by utilizing the buoyancy of a liquid having a specific gravity less than that of water at room temperature. It is an underwater navigator capable of autonomous navigation that descends at a specific gravity of around 1.0 with a ballast that cancels buoyancy when descending from the sea surface, and ascends at a specific gravity of around 1.0 by exchanging mineral ores with the ballast on the seabed. On the seafloor, it is accompanied by a device that collects seabed mineral ores for the underwater vehicle.

An underwater harvesting system with a mission control computer, a digital communication network, a submersible harvesting vehicle, a support hub, and one or more automated vehicles which provide support for harvesting operations via exploration, mapping, monitoring, and assessment of harvesting and environmental conditions and communicate with the mission control computer. The system of this disclosure also includes an underwater buffer station which may be an intermediary between harvesting vehicles and the water surface, and one or more support vehicles. The system may utilize sensor and other data, as well as artificial intelligence protocols to coordinate and optimize harvesting activity. The system may reduce disturbance to surrounding ecosystems and enable coordinated, efficient harvesting operations in a variety of aquatic environments.

A submersible harvesting vehicle with a chassis, a navigation, a harvesting system, a power system, and a communication system built to operate in underwater environments. The navigation system may be configured to detect and avoid marine life, and the vehicle may coordinate its movement and harvesting activity with other vehicles. The vehicle may adapt to different conditions unique to underwater environments and may be powered by clean energy. The vehicle may reduce disturbance to surrounding ecosystems and enable coordinated, efficient harvesting operations in a variety of aquatic environments.

An underwater support hub with a structure designed to rest on a harvesting surface, a cord connection to a support barge or other non-submersed or submersed infrastructure, a tethered light remotely operated vehicle for inspection, maintenance, or repair of submersible harvesting vehicles, one or more sensors which monitor harvesting activity, a computer, and a battery. The support hub may serve as a connective interface or control point for one or more submersible harvesting vehicles, and it may coordinate their navigation and/or harvesting activity other submersible harvesting vehicles or modify it according to environmental conditions. The system may reduce disturbance to surrounding ecosystems and enable coordinated, efficient harvesting operations in a variety of aquatic environments.