Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment
A complete view of seabed mining: resources, technology, the law of the sea and environmental impact. A private online professional programme with a Navalis Institute certificate.
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What is the Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment?
The Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment gives you a complete and rigorous view of one of the most debated topics in the blue economy: the extraction of minerals from the seabed.
You will study the resources (polymetallic nodules, sulphides and cobalt crusts), exploration and extraction technology, the legal framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Seabed Authority, and the environmental impact and the arguments for a moratorium. It is a programme to understand, assess and manage this sector with sound judgement, delivered 100% online with a private professional certificate from Navalis Institute.
Programme highlights
- Balanced approach: the economic, scientific and environmental arguments are analysed with equal rigour.
- Applied law of the sea: the International Area, the continental shelf and the ISA Mining Code.
- Subsea technology: ROVs, AUVs, collectors, risers and production vessels.
- Deep-sea ecosystem science: biodiversity, habitat recovery and monitoring.
- Applied project: a comprehensive assessment of a real exploration project.
- Build informed judgement: become an expert profile in a global debate of major significance.
Syllabus of the Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Critical Minerals and the Context of Deep-Sea Mining
- 1.1. Mineral demand for the energy transition
- 1.2. Cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper and rare earths
- 1.3. Land-based mining: impacts and geographic concentration
- 1.4. History of seabed exploration
- 1.5. Current state of exploration and contracts
- 1.6. Stakeholders: States, companies, the ISA, scientists and NGOs
- 1.7. The moratorium and precautionary pause debate
- 1.8. Alternatives: recycling and the circular economy
- 1.9. Geopolitics of critical minerals
- 1.10. Future scenarios
Geology and Mineral Resources of the Seabed
- 2.1. Ocean geology and plate tectonics
- 2.2. Polymetallic nodules: formation and distribution
- 2.3. Massive sulphides from hydrothermal vents
- 2.4. Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts
- 2.5. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone and other key areas
- 2.6. Resource and reserve estimation
- 2.7. Sampling and geochemical analysis
- 2.8. Geological mapping of the seabed
- 2.9. Resource distribution models
- 2.10. Mineral resource reporting standards
Ocean Exploration and Mapping Technologies
- 3.1. Research and exploration vessels
- 3.2. Multibeam echosounders and side-scan sonar
- 3.3. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)
- 3.4. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)
- 3.5. Samplers, corers and dredges
- 3.6. Underwater acoustic positioning
- 3.7. Bathymetric data processing
- 3.8. Underwater imaging and photogrammetry
- 3.9. Exploration campaigns: planning
- 3.10. Management and publication of scientific data
Extraction and Production Technologies
- 4.1. Nodule collectors and collection systems
- 4.2. Cutting tools for sulphides and crusts
- 4.3. Lifting systems: risers and pumping
- 4.4. Production vessels and their systems
- 4.5. Onboard separation and water return
- 4.6. Sediment plume management
- 4.7. Transport of ore to shore
- 4.8. Metallurgical processing
- 4.9. Pilot trials carried out
- 4.10. Technology readiness and outstanding challenges
Law of the Sea and Seabed Governance
- 5.1. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
- 5.2. Maritime zones: territorial sea, EEZ and continental shelf
- 5.3. The Area and the principle of the common heritage of mankind
- 5.4. The International Seabed Authority (ISA)
- 5.5. Exploration regulations and contracts
- 5.6. Negotiation of the exploitation Mining Code
- 5.7. Sponsoring States and their responsibility
- 5.8. Benefit sharing and the ISA Enterprise
- 5.9. Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
- 5.10. National legislation on seabed mining
Deep-Sea Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- 6.1. Characteristics of abyssal ecosystems
- 6.2. Fauna associated with nodules and hydrothermal vents
- 6.3. Seabed microbiology
- 6.4. Connectivity and species dispersal
- 6.5. Slow recovery of habitats
- 6.6. Unknown species and scientific gaps
- 6.7. Ecosystem services of the deep ocean
- 6.8. The role of the seabed in the carbon cycle
- 6.9. Baseline studies
- 6.10. Science and decision-making
Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring
- 7.1. Direct impacts on the seafloor
- 7.2. Sediment plumes and their dispersion
- 7.3. Noise, light and vibration
- 7.4. Effects on the water column and fisheries
- 7.5. Environmental impact assessment methodology
- 7.6. Environmental management plans
- 7.7. Reference and preservation zones
- 7.8. Monitoring with sensors and vehicles
- 7.9. Thresholds and criteria for serious harm
- 7.10. The precautionary principle and adaptive management
Project Economics and Financing
- 8.1. Metal markets and prices
- 8.2. Exploration and production costs
- 8.3. Comparison with land-based mining
- 8.4. Royalties and the proposed fiscal regime
- 8.5. Financing and risk of pioneering projects
- 8.6. Regulatory and reputational risk
- 8.7. ESG criteria of investors and manufacturers
- 8.8. Commitments by technology and automotive companies
- 8.9. Project valuation
- 8.10. Scenario analysis
Ethics, Society and Communication
- 9.1. Environmental ethics and intergenerational justice
- 9.2. Interests of developing and island States
- 9.3. Civil society participation
- 9.4. The industry's arguments
- 9.5. Arguments of the scientific and environmental community
- 9.6. Transparency and access to information
- 9.7. Communicating risks and uncertainties
- 9.8. Conflicts and international negotiation
- 9.9. Traditional knowledge and cultural heritage
- 9.10. Building consensus
Operational Safety and Offshore Project Management
- 10.1. Vessel safety and deep-water operations
- 10.2. Technical risk management
- 10.3. Emergency plans and incident response
- 10.4. Exploration project management
- 10.5. Coordination with support vessels
- 10.6. Logistics in remote areas
- 10.7. Contractor management
- 10.8. Quality and certification
- 10.9. Scientific knowledge management
- 10.10. Lessons from the offshore industry
Final Master's Project: Comprehensive Assessment of a Seabed Mining Project
- 11.1. Selection of the area and resource type
- 11.2. Geological characterisation and resource estimation
- 11.3. Technology proposal for exploration and extraction
- 11.4. Analysis of the applicable legal framework
- 11.5. Environmental baseline study
- 11.6. Impact assessment and management measures
- 11.7. Economic and risk analysis
- 11.8. Stakeholder analysis
- 11.9. Conclusions and reasoned recommendation
- 11.10. Writing the report and defence before a panel
Duration and format of the Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment
It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment
Career opportunities after the Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment
Questions about the Master's in Seabed Mining: Technology, Law and Environment
There are exploration contracts and pilot trials, while the regulation of commercial exploitation is still being negotiated. The programme analyses the current situation using data.
Neither: it presents the technical, economic, legal and environmental arguments so that you can form your own judgement.
Yes. The law of the sea and governance modules are central, and the technical content is explained in an accessible way.
Yes. Two full modules are devoted to deep-sea ecosystems and impact assessment.
A comprehensive assessment of a real project with technical, legal, environmental and economic analysis.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, recorded live sessions and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme has a workload of 1500 hours. You can progress at your own pace within the calendar given to you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by the admissions team when you request information.
More programmes in Law and regulation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: a degree or qualification in Mining, Naval, Ocean or Environmental Engineering, Geology, Marine Science, Biology or Law; or proven professional experience in the maritime, mining or environmental sector.
- Language: sufficient command of the language of instruction to follow classes and materials; basic technical English is recommended, since much of the sector's regulation and documentation is published in English.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project defences.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enrol
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.