Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and method for seabed resources collection. The apparatus comprises a main module and a plurality of seabed resources collecting devices releasably attached to the main module, wherein the main module and the plurality of collecting devices are configured to be launched from a surface vessel towards a seabed; the main module includes a control module which is configured to determine a mining path for each of the collecting devices based on characteristics of the seabed, control each of the collecting devices to collect seabed resources along the determined mining path and control transfer of the seabed resources collected by the collecting devices, wherein each collecting device is configured to be released from the main module after the apparatus is launched, and to collect seabed resources along the mining path determined by the main module after being released.

A robot and a collecting method for collecting polymetallic nodules in deep-sea are provided. The robot includes an underwater moving carrier and a collecting module, and the collecting module is fixedly mounted on the underwater moving carrier. The collecting module includes a collecting frame, a collecting pump, a rack and a collecting tube, the collecting frame is installed at the bottom of the rack, and the collecting pump is a piston pump, which includes a piston and a cylinder with open lower-end. The upper part of the cylinder is a collecting area, the lower part is a piston stroke area, the collecting tube is connected to the cylinder of the collecting area, and a check valve is arranged in the middle of the piston. The disclosure realizes the non-destructive collection of deep-sea polymetallic nodules and has high efficiency.

A multi-stage seafloor mining system that has at least concentration stage, a reclamation stage, and a haulage stage. The system includes a concentrating system (50) that processes seafloor materials, a reclaimer machine (300) that collects the processed seafloor materials, and a mechanical haulage system (40) that receives the processed seafloor materials collected by the reclaimer machine (300) and conveys discrete parcels of the processed seafloor materials to a surface vessel (100).

System for removing sediments from a bed of a liquid environment such as a harbor or a pond, characterized in that it comprises a conduit (30), the lower extremity of which forms a moving suction mouth (31) that is to be placed substantially at the level of the bed, and the upper extremity of which leads into the open air so that said mouth (31) is under atmospheric pressure, said system comprising means for carrying out a local stirring operation (41, 42, 43, 44, 53) within said mouth and discharging means (50, 51, 52) connecting said mouth (31) to the surface of said liquid environment, in which these sediments circulate.

A system for excavating a trench in ground submerged in water is described. The system includes an excavation device comprising moving means capable of moving the excavation device on the submerged ground and excavation means capable of being supplied with pressurized water and excavating the submerged ground using the pressurized water, The system also includes control means configured to control the moving means and supply means configured to supply pressurized water to the excavation means, where the supply means can include at least one water-jet turbine.

The invention relates to an excavation installation, comprising excavation means (1,2) in which more than one excavation means (1,2) is positioned offset next to another in a row (34,35) of excavation means (1,2). In use the excavation installation may excavate a horizontal bottom of water (102) in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the rows (34,35) of excavation means (1,2). The excavation means (1,2) are connected to a rigid construction, in which the rigid construction (3) is positioned vertically above the excavation means (1,2). The rigid construction (3) is resiliency connected to a bridge (5) that is positioned vertically above the rigid construction (3) and connected by means of actuators (7).

This disclosure addresses the problem of preventing sediment laden water (sediment slurry) resulting from hydraulic collection of nodules from the seabed from entering the riser and lift system that carries the nodules to the surface as a slurry. An example includes collecting nodules from the seabed by hydraulic suction, separating the nodules utilizing an inverse hydrocyclone.

A piece of submarine mining equipment comprises an equipment body, a plurality of adaptive submarine mining collectors and respective mineral delivery pipes. The equipment body and the adaptive submarine mining collectors are connected through the mineral delivery pipes. The lengths, stretching out of the equipment body, of the mineral delivery pipes can be adjusted under control. The adaptive submarine mining collectors are provided with tracked traveling mechanisms and can autonomously travel under control. An underwater detector is used for detecting the submarine topography and mineral distribution in the vicinity of an operation area, and the traveling path of the submarine mining collectors and a mineral storage vehicle is reasonably planned according to detected information. The multiple adaptive submarine mining collectors simultaneously and independently work and are made light and small, thus reducing damage of mining operations to the submarine ecological environment. The equipment body can travel along flat submarine paths and avoid rough paths. Horizontal vortexes induced by the mining collectors can enhance the mining effect and improve the collecting power under unit power consumption so that fewer water pumps with smaller sizes can be configured, and the mining collectors have a smaller principle dimension, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption and being more environmentally friendly.

A system for performing underwater earthworks, the system including a power pack situated outside the water, at least one submersible operating unit for performing underwater earthworks, wherein the operating unit is connected with the power pack through power supply means, and a control unit connected via data communication means with the power pack and the operating unit and with instrumentation indicating location and depth of the operating unit.

A multi-stage seafloor mining system that has at least concentration stage, a reclamation stage, and a haulage stage. The system includes a concentrating system (50) that processes seafloor materials, a reclaimer machine (300) that collects the processed seafloor materials, and a mechanical haulage system (40) that receives the processed seafloor materials collected by the reclaimer machine (300) and conveys discrete parcels of the processed seafloor materials to a surface vessel (100).