DORD has been actively involved with research and surveys on deep seabed mineral resources since early 1980’s as the sole deep seabed mineral resources exploration company in Japan. Our main achievements include independent prospecting surveys by a research vessel for polymetallic nodules from 1983, as well as exploration surveys, including analysis and assessment of the data obtained, until 1996 in the area within the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean of which license for polymetallic nodule exploration was acquired in 1987. Other areas of our experience cover surveys on polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese, environmental impact studies, and development of deep-sea survey equipment that were entrusted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), and a mineral resource survey for the countries of the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission as an official development assistance project.
Entrusted by the METI and JOGMEC, DORD has been conducting prospecting and exploration activities for polymetallic nodules in the CCZ by securing an exploration license by signing the contract for exploration of polymetallic nodules signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in 2001, followed by the agreement of extension of the contract in 2016 and 2021.
