Nautilus Minerals Singapore Pte Ltd

Nautilius Minerals Singapore Pte Ltd

Sean Michael Plunkett

Roland Gunter Berndt

John Michael Parianos

Malcolm Leishman Roper

A multi-stage seafloor mining system that has at least concentration stage, a reclamation stage, and a haulage stage. The system includes a concentrating system () that processes seafloor materials, a reclaimer machine () that collects the processed seafloor materials, and a mechanical haulage system () that receives the processed seafloor materials collected by the reclaimer machine () and conveys discrete parcels of the processed seafloor materials to a surface vessel ().

Decoupled seafloor mining system

A seafloor haulage system (), for lifting seafloor materials from the seafloor to the surface, that has a line member (), preferably synthetic rope, that extends at least partially between the seafloor and the surface and a container (), preferably a plurality of containers, capable of carrying a load connected to the line member (). The containers have a steerable element (), such as a rudder, that enables the container to manoeuvre as it is propelled, typically towed by the line member, through the water.

Seafloor haulage system

A seafloor nodule concentrating system is provided. The seafloor nodule concentrating system has a surface vessel and an undersea steering vehicle secured to the surface vessel. The undersea steering vehicle is adapted to be towed by the surface vessel. The seafloor nodule concentrating system also has a nodule collecting apparatus connected to the undersea steering vehicle. The nodule collecting apparatus is located on the seafloor. The seafloor nodule concentrating system also has a position determination device adapted to determine the position of the nodule collecting apparatus and communicate position information of the nodule collecting apparatus to the undersea steering vehicle and surface vessel.

Growing community of inventors

Milton, Australia

Sean Michael Plunkett