Reach Subsea has entered into a firm contract with Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for the MarMine project, the first project in Norway focused on the resource potential and technological aspects related to seabed minerals and mining.

Reach has been tasked to complete a scientific research expedition on the mid-Atlantic ridge north of Jan Mayen, financed by the Research Council of Norway (RCN).

The project will see the deployment of ROV, AUV and grabs for seabed mapping and sampling for geological and biological research related to marine mining, the company said.

Reach will execute the contract using GC Rieber’s multipurpose subsea vessel Polar King.

According to the company, the contract is expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.

Reach Subsea CEO, Jostein Alendal, said: “We are pleased to be part of a very exciting project together with NTNU and the other MarMine partners, and to utilize our know-how in a new market segment, the subsea mining segment.”

Expedition lead on the MarMine project, Martin Ludvigsen, said: “A modern and well equipped offshore vessel gives the project the best possible premises to succeed.”

Project manager on MarMine project, Kurt Aasly, added: “The project appreciate that we are able to utilize equipment and competence from the oil and gas industry for use in the subsea mining segment.”