Deep-sea mining robot stranded on ocean floor
Trial goes wrong as mining robot detaches at depth of more than 4km.
A mining robot has become detached from its control ship at a depth of 4km and is now stranded on the Pacific Ocean floor, reports Reuters.
Belgian company, Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR) has been testing Patania II, a 25-tonne mining robot prototype in the mining concession Clarion Clipperton Zone since 20th April.
“On its final dive in the GSR area, a lifting point separated and Patania II now stands on the seafloor,” a GSR spokesman said in an emailed statement.
“An operation to reconnect the lifting point begins this evening and we will provide an update in due course.”
Dr Sandra Schoettner, deep-sea biologist at Greenpeace, said: “Losing control of a 25-tonne mining machine at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean should sink the idea of ever mining the deep sea.”
