Cruise MSM59/1 - INDEX 2016_2
Report of the project:
Cruise MSM59/1
Source: BGR
BGR, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), holds an exploration license of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for polymetallic sulphides in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The license covers an area of 10.000 km², subdivided into 100 so-called sulphide blocks each 10 x 10 km in size. By signing the license contract in May 2015, BGR has the obligation to carry out a detailed resource-oriented exploration program in the license area southeast of Mauritius. The program includes the identification and outline of potential polymetallic sulphide deposits and a resource assessment, but also extensive and detailed base line studies for the sustainable protection of the marine environment. The license contract has a fifteen years lifetime and may allow the application for a subsequent mining license.
With cruise MSM59 it was for the first time that a German research vessel could be used by BGR for this governmental task under a dedicated agreement between German Ministries of Education and Science (BMBF) and Economic Affairs and Energy.
During the two legs of MSM59 over a period of 55 days detailed geophysical, geological and biological investigations were carried out in individual blocks of the license area as part of the 15 years exploration program.
Cruise No. MSM59/1 data: October 28 – November 26, 2016. Cape Town (South Africa) – Port Louis (Mauritius)
Literature: