The Information Note and the Provisional Schedule of Meetings for the International Seabed Authority’s 19th Session is now available online.

The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority has received a proposal from Nautilus Minerals Inc., (‘Nautilus’) a company incorporated in Canada, to enter into negotiations to form a joint venture with the Enterprise for the purpose of developing eight of the reserved area blocks in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ).

H.E. Mr. Akramul Qader, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Secretary-General of the Authority on 3 April 2013.

The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr Nii A. Odunton says the level of interest in deep seabed mining has increased rapidly and significantly after decades of being ‘on hold’.

On 8 February 2013, the International Seabed Authority received an application for approval of a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Area from UK Seabed Resources Ltd., a private company. The application is sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
 
The application covers an area of 149,815  square kilometres and is located in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Central Pacific Ocean. In accordance with the applicable regulations, the area has been divided by the applicant into two areas of equal estimated commercial value.
 
In accordance with the Authority’s Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area, the members of the Legal and Technical Commission will be notified of the above applications and consideration of the application will be placed on the agenda of the Commission at its next meeting, which is scheduled to commence on 8 July 2013.

H.E. Mr. Eduardo Bonilla presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Chile to the Secretary-General of the Authority, Mr. Nii Allotey Odunton on Tuesday, 5th March 2013.

On 6 February 2013, the International Seabed Authority received an application for approval of a plan of work for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.

H.E. Mr. Ariel Fernández, presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr. Nii Allotey Odunton on Thursday, 28 February 2013.

The ISA Legal and Technical Commission began its week-long meeting on Monday 4 February 2013.