American Ocean Minerals Announces Anuanua Moana Active Deployment to Advance Deep-Sea Research and Environmental Research Campaigns
- Supporting a $1B Platform: A dedicated deep-sea minerals research vessel, Anuanua Moana provides in-house exploration capabilities to the U.S.-controlled deep-sea critical minerals platform to be created by AOMC's recently announced pending merger with Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ:OMEX).
- Operating with Cost Efficiency: Unlike conventional chartered vessels that require costly, time-consuming mobilization, the Anuanua Moana is permanently outfitted for deep-sea research, enabling rapid deployment and reducing campaign costs.
- Advancing Regulatory Timelines: The vessel's continuous data collection actively fulfills the rigorous scientific baseline research required for Environmental Impact Statements and Pre-Feasibility Studies across AOMC's operating areas.
- Integrating Portfolio-Wide: Moving beyond a single project, the Anuanua Moana will serve as a centralized asset supporting AOMC's >500,000 km² projected footprint, including Moana Minerals, CIC Limited, U.S.-regulated zones within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), and additional target areas.
- Strengthening Local Communities: As a Cook Islands-flagged vessel, it goes beyond exploration research to actively serve the host community by transporting inter-island cargo, performing sealift rescues, and gathering critical data for local climate resilience and fisheries.
Today, American Ocean Minerals Corporation (AOMC) announced deployment on the next phase of scientific research activities of the MV Anuanua Moana, a proprietary research vessel advancing critical deep-sea environmental and exploration programs across its operating areas. The deployment reflects a key operational capability underpinning AOMC's recently announced definitive merger agreement with Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ:OMEX), which will create a premier, U.S.-controlled deep-sea critical-minerals platform valued at approximately $1 billion.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427670998/en/
The MV Anuanua Moana, a 196-foot (~60 meters) purpose-built research vessel, serves as the core offshore vessel for environmental and exploration programs across the Pacific.
Originally built in 2007, and acquired in 2022 when comprehensively refurbished, the 196-foot (~60 meters) ship is a dedicated science platform for deep-sea minerals and serves as the core offshore platform for AOMC's asset development. Upon completion of its previously announced merger with Odyssey, AOMC expects to hold approximately 80% to 100% of Ocean Minerals LLC (OML), which owns the Anuanua Moana through its wholly owned subsidiary Kiva Marine Ltd.
An Unmatched, Purpose-Built Platform
The vessel combines multiple workstreams on a single platform, avoiding the long mobilization and demobilization integration delays typical of chartered vessels. Equipped with permanently installed sonar systems, scientific echo sounders, subsea tracking technologies, and two A-frames, it deploys a range of equipment, including tow sleds, box cores, multi-cores, and dredges for bulk seafloor sampling.
It features three high-specification onboard laboratories (geology, chemistry, biology) alongside a 6,000-meter-rated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for high-resolution imaging and sample collection. Configured to house up to 42 crew, scientists, and engineers, its fully cross-trained personnel ensure seamless, end-to-end productivity.
"The Anuanua Moana has been engineered and outfitted with modern equipment and capabilities for the next evolution of deep-sea minerals and environmental research," said Hans Smit, President & CEO of Ocean Minerals LLC. "The vessel's permanent deployment allows us to collect data on an ongoing basis, feeding into spatial and temporal data sets that are unparalleled in the industry."
Smit brings over 30 years of deep ocean experience to the platform, having previously developed key engineering systems utilized by some of the world's largest offshore diamond miners.
"AOMC is positioned to be a long-term supplier of the minerals we need to achieve American re-industrialization, and unlocking a portfolio of this scale requires dedicated infrastructure," added Tom Albanese, Chairman of AOMC and former Rio Tinto CEO. "Access to this offshore asset will allow us to seamlessly advance both our Cook Islands and potential High Seas projects. This operational control ensures high environmental standards while accelerating our regulatory timelines."
Executing the Pathway to Commercial Harvesting
Transitioning deep-sea mineral assets from exploration to commercial harvesting requires multi-year environmental baselining and resource definition. Through approved Work Plans, this data supports the completion of regulatory requirements for Mining License submittals, including Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Pre-Feasibility Studies (PFS).
AOMC's environmental strategy relies on more than three years of consistent data collection that is near complete to remove data anomalies, establish a complete ecosystem picture detailing biodiversity, and ensure the absence of endemic species within any future mining plan. This data allows the building of a comprehensive "software model" of the environment to evaluate and quantify the impact of the operations.
"The importance of environmental baselining cannot be overstated," said Katie Allen, Environmental Manager at Ocean Minerals LLC. "Collecting consistent data allows us to understand ecosystem structure and variability over time, which is essential to assessing potential impacts and ensuring that our permit and license applications to conduct minerals harvesting are grounded in robust science."
Among its major milestones to date, the Anuanua Moana mapped the entire EL3 license area (more than 23,500 square kilometers) in 16 days. It subsequently completed a 30-day resource definition campaign, using ROV footage to confirm high-density nodule fields, contributing directly to a 2025 S-K 1300-compliant Technical Report on OML's Mineral Resource Assessment that resulted in a mineral resource estimate of 417 million wet tonnes of polymetallic nodules at an indicated level of confidence and a further 102 million wet tonnes at an inferred level of confidence within EL3. The data collection across historical campaigns exceeds 3,700 hours of offshore work, 30 ROV deployments, 47 box core and 100 free-fall grab deployments, yielding more than 800 samples, and the bulk sampling of over 5 tonnes of polymetallic nodules.
Following these campaigns and utilizing the data collected, supported by additional data currently underway and planned, Moana Minerals has engaged AMC Consultants to review and provide third-party sign-off on its PFS this year, and ERIAS Group, an environmental and social impact assessment and management consultancy, to support its EIS. These key milestones are required for submitting an environmental project permit application, followed by the mining license application under Cook Islands regulations.
A Centralized Asset for a >500,000 km² Portfolio
The Anuanua Moana is planned for deployment as a centralized asset across an exploration footprint currently exceeding 500,000 square kilometers. This standardizes data collection processes and increases operational efficiency across Moana Minerals (EL3), and CIC Limited (CIC) license areas in the Cook Islands' EEZ, and U.S.-regulated zones, including AOM Area 1 within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and AOM Area 2 in the Penrhyn Basin.
Beyond internal use, the vessel's specialized capabilities are sought after globally. Working on behalf of the University of Tokyo and funded by the Nippon Foundation, the vessel was instrumental in defining the extent of the nodule resource in Japanese territorial waters around Minamitorishima in 2024 and returned in late 2025 to execute the region's first environmental campaign. In the Clarion- Clipperton Zone (CCZ), the vessel previously completed a 36-day campaign for Japan's Deep Ocean Resources Development (DORD) in 2024, recovered scientific data and equipment for Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR), and executed scientific work within the Interoceanmetal (IOM) license area. The vessel is also scheduled to support campaigns this year for other deep-sea exploration and development companies, including an upcoming 84-day deployment for DORD.
Tangible Community Impact
Beyond research, the vessel has been serving the Cook Islands community. Its continuous mapping data is actively used by locals to optimize Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) placements and by climate scientists to assess severe storm and tsunami risks.
The vessel also provides a unique platform for community and governmental engagement. Two voyages were specifically aimed at visiting the outer islands and incidentally mapping the seabed around and between the islands. By engaging with the remote island communities and bringing locals on board to witness ROV footage and scientific rigor firsthand, AOMC will actively operate with transparency and scientific data. The logistical benefits of such engagement were shared with the Cook Islands Minister of Seabed Minerals and Prime Minister Mark Brown and Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) staff who conducted parallel consultations on the state of the sector more generally.
"One of the big things we have to secure is the social license, and you have to engage with people who have questions about this industry," added Smit. "We've not only gone out and engaged these communities who often feel isolated, but we've used the vessel as a way to show them the extent and magnitude of the science and work we do. People are often surprised by the level of detail and thoroughness of the work. It builds a level of trust and confidence that we're advancing responsibly."
The Anuanua Moana is currently deployed on a ROV-based megafauna survey campaign, analyzing 30 locations via 3-kilometer seafloor transect lines to identify visible marine life. A follow-on campaign will conduct targeted seafloor sampling to assess the benthic environment that includes microscopic animals in collaboration with scientists from multiple independent research organizations.
About American Ocean Minerals Corporation
American Ocean Minerals Corporation is establishing a U.S.-controlled global supply chain for critical minerals and rare earth elements sourced from polymetallic nodules. To learn more, please visit www.aomusa.com.
About OML and CIC
Ocean Minerals, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary Moana Minerals Ltd, is a deepwater critical minerals exploration and development company focused on advancing polymetallic nodule resources within the exclusive economic zone of the Cook Islands. In August 2025, an S-K 1300 Initial Assessment reported an indicated mineral resource of 417 million tonnes with an abundance of 26.7 kg/m2 as well as an inferred mineral resource of 102 million tonnes with an abundance of 26 kg/m2. Through its subsidiary, Moana Minerals Ltd., OML holds an exploration license granted by the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority. Upon completion of the AOMC / Odyssey merger and related transactions (the "Transaction"), AOMC is expected to hold approximately 80% to 100% of the membership interests of OML. Learn more at www.moanaminerals.com.
CIC Limited is a privately held Cook Islands company focused on addressing challenges in the critical minerals supply chain through the development of ocean mineral resources. CIC was granted a mineral exploration license that covers an area of ~200,000 square kilometers in the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone. In December 2025, an SEC S-K 1300 Initial Assessment reported an inferred mineral resource of 1.95 billion tonnes of nodules with an abundance of 19.9 kg/m2 prior to planned relinquishment of 60% of the license area. AOMC expects to hold equity and financial instruments representing approximately 48% ownership interest with options to increase ownership in CIC to approximately 95% at AOMC's discretion, inclusive of AOMC and Odyssey's existing interests, upon completion of the Transaction and subject to regulatory approval in the Cook Islands. Learn more at www.cic.co.ck.
About Odyssey Marine Exploration
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. is an ocean exploration and marine resource development leader with more than 30 years of experience operating in complex offshore environments worldwide. Odyssey is building a diversified portfolio of projects that focus on seafloor mineral resources that can contribute practical solutions to global challenges, including food security, energy transition, and supply-chain resilience.
Offering comprehensive research, marine operations, and regulatory compliance support, Odyssey works with governments and seafloor rights holders worldwide. Odyssey develops its projects in collaboration with a global network of partners, academics, and industry professionals who share its commitment to environmentally sound solutions for obtaining minerals that address present and future global challenges. Learn more at www.odysseymarine.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements. Generally, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "contemplate," "predict," "forecast," "likely," "believe," "target," "will," "could," "would," "should," "potential," "may" and similar expressions or their negative, may, but are not necessary to, identify forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking statements include those regarding the timing, consummation and anticipated benefits of the Transaction, expectations around the deployment and use of the Anuanua Moana and other vessels, and expectations about AOMC's ownership of OML or CIC after the Transaction. The experience and results of the Transaction or AOMC's operations or results may differ materially from the experience and results anticipated in such statements. The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but are not limited to, the following factors: the risk that the conditions to the closing of the Transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals of the transaction are not obtained; litigation relating to the transaction; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the Transaction; risks that the proposed Transaction disrupts the current plans or operations of Odyssey or AOMC; the ability to retain and hire key personnel; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Transaction; potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Transaction; the ability to achieve the synergies expected from the transaction; ability to commercially extract mineral deposits after the Transaction; risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in exploring, developing, constructing and operating mining projects); uncertainty about the ability to obtain required capital to execute business plans; changes in the market prices of minerals; uncertainty around whether and when regulatory and other approvals for the Transaction will be received or the listing or exploration licensing will be obtained; and geopolitical, regulatory and macroeconomic risks in the areas in which Odyssey and AOMC operate. Other factors that might cause such a difference include those discussed in Odyssey's filings with the SEC, which include its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed in connection with the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof and no person is under any obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed Transaction, Odyssey will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4, which will include a document that serves as a prospectus and proxy statement of Odyssey (the "proxy statement/prospectus"), and Odyssey will file other documents regarding the proposed Transaction with the SEC. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to Odyssey's stockholders. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain these documents (when available) free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and stockholders should note that Odyssey communicates with investors and the public using its website (www.odysseymarine.com), the investor relations website (https://ir.odysseymarine.com) where anyone will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Odyssey with the SEC, and stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed Transaction.
Participants in the Solicitation
Odyssey, AOM, and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees and certain of their respective significant stockholders may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Odyssey and AOM stockholders in respect of the proposed Transaction. Information about Odyssey's directors and executive officers is available in Odyssey's proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2025, for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Odyssey's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holding or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed Transaction when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the SEC and Odyssey as indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427670998/en/
Teneo
AOMC@teneo.com