KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 17 July 2012 – – The International Seabed Authority began its eighteenth session in Kingston with an extensive agenda that includes finalization of a regime for prospecting and exploration for  cobalt-rich crusts in the deep seabed Area, elections to fill vacancies in the Council, and the election of the Secretary-General.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 13 July 2012 – – The adoption of draft Regulations on prospecting and exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts; consideration of five new applications for approval of plans of work for exploration and election of 20 members of Council and of the Secretary-General are among substantive issues for consideration on the agenda of the International Seabed Authority when it convenes its 18th Session in Kingston, Jamaica from 16-27 July 2012.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 10 July 2012 – -The Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) will today begin to hear oral presentations by the five new applicants for seabed exploration.

Secretary-General Nii Odunton was one of two keynote speakers at the Symposium on Deep Seabed Mining – A Challenging Technological & Resource Potential for the German Economy held on 19 June at the Ministry of Federal Economics in Berlin.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 21 June 2012 – – The InterRidge/ISA Endowment Fund Fellowship Programme recently awarded fellowships to three students from developing countries.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 5 June 2012 – – The Authority has received five new applications for seabed exploration licences; filed in respect of areas located in the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

The International Seabed Authority has received three new applications for seabed exploration licences. The three new applications have been filed in respect of areas located in the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

H.E. Mr Hiroshi Yamaguchi, presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on Tuesday 22 May 2012.

H.E. Mrs. Ginette de Matha presented her credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on Tuesday, 15 May 2012.