Odyssey Marine Exploration has formally applied to BOEM for a critical mineral lease on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. This initiative seeks to consolidate the domestic supply of strategic resources critical to sectors such as defense, technology and agriculture.
Development and leasing of critical minerals
The application filed under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act(OCSLA), registering one of the first petitions of its kind in U.S. jurisdiction. If approved, it will allow Odyssey to initiate comprehensive environmental and geological studies to support responsible development of mineral sands rich in zirconium, titanium, rare earths and phosphate.
This project involves the use of shallow water dredging, a method widely used around the world, especially in shipping and coastal protection activities. Odyssey has designed its proposal to avoid sensitive areas and protect marine habitats, ensuring that any extractive activity minimizes its ecological impact.
To strengthen the execution of the project, Odyssey has partnered with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, the largest dredging firm in the United States. This collaboration will bring technical and operational expertise, especially in areas such as the Chesapeake Bay, where GLDD has led dredging and restoration activities for decades.
Odyssey CEO Mark Gordon stresses that the company is ideally positioned to unite private innovation with federal support, driving projects that strengthen the country’s industrial autonomy.
With more than three decades of experience in ocean exploration, Odyssey has led sustainable development projects in the deep sea. As of 2021, it is pre-qualified with the BOEMwhich reinforces its ability to operate to exacting regulatory standards.
The application to the BOEM represents a clear commitment to the exploitation of national subsoil resources, within a framework of scientific governance, public-private collaboration and environmental sustainability.
Source and photo: Odyssey Marine Exploration
