Okeanos Explorer to Survey American Samoa Deep Sea for Critical Minerals

NOAA Ocean Exploration will conduct two expeditions around American Samoa this summer and fall to map and characterise the deep seafloor in the nation's highest-priority region for offshore critical mineral exploration. Conducted aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, the expeditions will deploy a remotely operated vehicle and advanced sensors to assess mineral potential. The publicly available data aims to guide future exploration and support federal and local decision-making, with real-time ROV operations streamed online daily.

 

Details of the Expeditions

 

NOAA Ocean Exploration is planning two significant surveys. These will take place in waters around American Samoa. They will occur this summer and fall. The aim is to map and characterise the deep seafloor. This focuses on a high-priority region for mineral exploration.

The expeditions follow a defined schedule. Both will take place aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The first will run from August through September 2026. The second will run from late September through October 2026. Both will deploy mapping technology and observational sensors.

 

Survey Objectives

 

The expeditions serve several interconnected purposes. They aim to increase understanding of mineral potential. They will also guide future exploration in the region. Supporting federal and local decision-making is a further goal. The surveys will generate publicly available data toward these ends.

The focus reflects the region's strategic importance. American Samoa is the highest-priority region in the US Exclusive Economic Zone. This priority stems from its potential for polymetallic nodules. High industry interest reinforces this designation. These factors make the region a focus for exploration.

 

The Technology Deployed

 

The expeditions will use advanced exploration equipment. The first expedition will use a remotely operated vehicle. This allows detailed imaging of the deep seafloor. Advanced mapping technology will support the surveys. Observational sensors will gather additional data throughout.

Real-time access is a notable feature of the operations. ROV operations will be streamed online daily. This provides the public a window into the deep sea. It also allows shore-based scientists to participate remotely. This transparency is central to the expeditions' approach.

 

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Open Data Approach

 

The expeditions emphasise public access to findings. All data gathered will be made publicly available. This supports critical mineral assessments across the region. It also informs future exploration decisions. Broader marine-resource planning will benefit from the data.

This open approach serves multiple stakeholders. The data-driven method provides authoritative science. Decision-makers at federal and local levels can use it. Company leadership emphasised exploring in an open and transparent way. This provides foundational science for responsible resource management.

 

Strategic and Policy Context

 

The expeditions align with national policy priorities. They support the US Offshore Critical Minerals Mapping Plan. They also advance a related executive order on offshore minerals. The National Ocean Mapping strategy provides further context. These frameworks underpin the expeditions' purpose.

NOAA framed the work within broader economic goals. Leadership described dedicating resources to support commerce. The aim is to tie scientific discoveries to usable data. Industry, government and partners can use this data. The stated goal is building prosperity at home and abroad.

 

Building on Prior Work

 

The expeditions extend earlier exploration efforts. They follow a successful 2026 mapping project in the region. That project mapped over 30,000 square nautical miles. This established a foundation for the new expeditions. It demonstrated the region's exploration potential.

Additional prior work also informs these expeditions. Two NOAA-funded expeditions used the Exploration Vessel Nautilus. These included exploration in the eastern American Samoa zone. Together these efforts build a growing body of data. The new expeditions add further depth to this understanding.