US research vessel to aid Cook Islands’ seabed mineral exploration

The United States is partnering with the Cook Islands to provide scientific and technical support for the nation’s exploration of deep-sea mineral resources, a move that comes amid a fierce national debate and existing collaboration with China on the same issue.

In an interview with Cook Islands News yesterday, the US Chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Wellington, David Gehrenbeck, confirmed that seabed mining was a key topic of discussion during his meeting earlier this week with Prime Minister Mark Brown.

From left, Joshua Kroon, US Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods, materials, critical minerals and metals. David Gehrenbeck, Chargé d’Affaires US Mission to NZ, Cook Islands, and Niue, Prime Minister Mark Brown, David Copley, senior director at the US National Security Council, and Sonny Williams, Assistant to the Minister responsible for the Prime Minister. US EMBASSY/25080625

The meeting with PM Brown was also attended by David Copley, a former mining executive who is now a senior director at the US National Security Council, and Joshua Kroon, the Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods, materials, critical minerals and metals.

In a statement released by the governments of the United States of America and the Cook Islands, the two countries announced the cooperation to advance scientific research and the responsible development of seabed mineral resources.  

The push to explore and possibly exploit deep-sea mineral resources, “if exploration comes out positive,” comes amid growing international interest, potential involvement and a public backlash from environmentalists calling for a moratorium on seabed mining.

In February, Cook Islands signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Blue Partnership in Seabed Minerals Affairs with China to strengthen collaboration on seabed mineral research, capacity building, and environmental sustainability.

US chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Wellington, David Gehrenbeck. TALAIA MIKA/25080606

“We understand that this has been a topic of great interest in the Cook Islands and much discussion and debate for a long time actually,” Gehrenbeck told this newspaper. “So we respect the Cook Islands as it works through those issues and comes to sort of a collective decision as a society and as a people and as a country on sort of how it wants to proceed with developing those resources.”

The push for seabed mining, which will be determined after the ongoing exploration phase to assess its feasibility, has sparked a fierce debate across the nation. Environmental groups, traditional leaders and concerned citizens have raised serious concerns about the long-term environmental impacts, a lack of independent oversight and the pace at which the government is moving forward.

In 2022, the Cook Islands government granted licences for exploratory work to three seabed mining companies and has indicated a willingness to advance the sector. The exploration is now in its third year of a five-year exploration phase.

Now, the United States is stepping into the picture – not just diplomatically, but with tangible assistance.

Gehrenbeck confirmed that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a top-tier US federal science agency, will be sending its research vessel, the Nautilus, to the Cook Islands “fairly soon”.

“We’re working out the schedule, but it’s going to be coming here to the Cook Islands fairly soon to help with things like figuring out how to collect the sufficient environmental data on the seabed, look at seabed mapping to some other technical and scientific research for the government to help the government as it’s considering all the issues and making an informed decision for the Cook Islands,” Gehrenbeck said.

In addition to the arrival of the Nautilus, Gehrenbeck revealed the US would also provide technical assistance from its Department of the Interior, aimed at helping the Cook Islands Government build the capacity needed to manage and regulate the sector.

“So do things like again, collect that environmental data, enforce regulations that would be established for the sector, things like that,” he said.

“There are US-related companies that are here under licence by the government to do that preliminary exploration to see what the possibilities are and what the next steps might be,” Gehrenbeck added.

Gehrenbeck framed the United States’ involvement as part of a broader partnership approach, especially as the country evaluates whether to proceed further with the industry.

“We understand (for) the Cook Islands, this is a very ambitious project, as the Cook Islands thinks about whether it wants to go forward and it needs to have those technical tools to be able to do that. So we want to be a good partner to the Cook Islands and so we’re trying to identify specific ways we can support the Cook Islands as it looks to continue this conversation.”

The US delegation was in the Cook Islands as one of the international guests invited to celebrate the nation’s 60th year of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. The celebrations concluded with a prize-giving ceremony and a public concert on Tuesday.

In a joint statement after this week’s meeting, the two governments said the partnership in seabed minerals is the latest collaboration and marks a new chapter in the partnership between the two countries since they established diplomatic relations in 2023.

“Seabed minerals are critical for developing and powering the technology of today and the future.  The Cook Islands is a leader in the exploration of its Exclusive Economic Zone mineral resources and recognises the significant potential of these resources to support long-term growth and prosperity for its people,” the statement said.

“The Government of the United States has begun discussions with the Government of the Cook Islands to support the research necessary to inform seabed exploration and responsible development within the Cook Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone.  The United States and the Cook Islands are proud U.S.-linked firms sit at the forefront of deep seabed mineral research and exploration in the Cook Islands, which reflects strong and shared U.S.-Cook Islands seabed minerals interests.”

The two countries also affirmed their commitment to scientific advancement, mutual prosperity, economic self-reliance and environmental stewardship as they partner to map and research the Cook Islands’ seabed mineral resources.

“The Cook Islands, with its vast maritime natural resources, and the United States, with its expertise in oceanic research and technology, are uniquely positioned to work together to ensure that the exploration and development of seabed mineral resources are guided by rigorous gold standard science and best practices.

“Together, we commit to advancing responsible development of seabed minerals and global scientific understanding of the deep ocean, and to setting a high standard for transparent seabed resources management.”

In April this year, United States President Donald Trump signed anexecutive order to advance the country’s leadership in seabed mineral development.

The “Unleashing America's offshore critical minerals and resources” order directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US science and environmental agency, to take steps to facilitate and expedite the permitting process for deep-sea mining.

NOAA was directed to, within 60 days, “expedite the process for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act”. It directs NOAA to expedite permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in the US and international waters.

Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Economy, National