SMARTEX will undertake two research expeditions to the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean to visit sites where previous test mining has taken place. This will enable the assessment of the impacts of mining disturbance after four decades of recovery.

The first expedition (JC241) will take place in February-March 2023 sailing from Puerto Caldera in Costa Rica. The second expedition will follow approximately one year later.

JC241 aims to investigate the recovery and changes at a previous experimental test site by mapping the seabed habitat and assessing geochemical, biological and ecosystem changes. Biodiversity and temporal changes in fauna as well spatial dependencies in the fauna will be assessed. Long term seabed currents will be measured by deploying moorings.

Read all about life on ship from the scientists, engineers and crew on board as well as all the exciting science taking place on the JC241 cruise blog.