OCEANic presence in deep-sea MINing: how the sEa co-proDuces situational knowledges and practices

ongoing

"Deep Sea Mining (DSM) is capturing significant attention across political, scientific, and societal domains. The deep sea is becoming a valuable source of capital, challenging its historical perception as ""the last great wilderness"". OCEAN-MINeD seeks to venture into these uncharted waters in order to investigate the implications that arise when mineral extraction shifts to an entirely distinct environmental realm, such as the ocean. Despite numerous social scientific studies investigating political, jurisdictional and environmental aspects of DSM, an evident gap remains in the exploration of the ocean's intricate material and discursive dimensions. The ocean transcends being merely a static body of water—it stands as an ever-present and dynamic force that continually shapes the facets of maritime extraction, the experiences of workers, and the crafting of “situational” knowledges and practices. Drawing inspiration from the innovative literature on the oceanic turn and the new interest in the three-dimensional and turbulent materiality of the sea, OCEAN-MINeD asks how mining “get(s) wet” and grapples with the ceaseless “oceanic presence”. OCEAN-MINeD examines these questions by conducting a multi-sited and ethnographic research across three distinct DSM hotspots in Norway: at the headquarters of Loke Marine Mineral to explore resource management processes, at the head office of Kongsberg Maritime to untangle DSM technology, and on board a DSM vessel to explore offshore operations. OCEAN-MINeD aims to develop a novel theoretical and ethnographic ocean-based approach designed specifically to investigate the role of the sea as a political and social actor in understanding the sociality, work and automation of DSM. The project will thus contribute to a broader understanding of the complex interplay between humanity, technology and the ocean within the realm of DSM, which is crucial for developing more sustainable policies on the use of marine resources.  "