Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please contact our team if you have any questions that aren’t covered here or would like to discuss your questions or feedback with Impossible Metals.

Transport Vessels

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E.1 How is the payload secured and stabilized on the ship once off-loaded from the AUV?Christian2025-04-25T15:23:29-07:00

E.1 How is the payload secured and stabilized on the ship once off-loaded from the AUV?

Nodules are offloaded from the AUVs into storage onboard the vessel. The current economic models assume the use of bulk ore transport vessels. We continue to explore alternative novel methods, such as containerizing the nodules onboard the vessel. This method could eliminate vessel stability concerns related to liquefaction of the load. This also provides economic benefits, increasing the number of ports where the nodules can be transported.

E.2 Are there backup systems for critical functions?Christian2025-04-25T15:26:53-07:00

E.2 Are there backup systems for critical functions?

Yes, a minimum of two vessels operate in the field, and while one is transiting to port, the other is servicing the robots. This inherently provides a level of redundancy if critical systems for one of the vessels take one ship out of operation. Additionally, parallel operations on each vessel are planned, with 36 launch and recovery systems on board each vessel and parallel materials handling equipment on each vessel, eliminating single points of failure.

E.3 Are there any alternative or renewable energy sources to power the carrier ship?Christian2025-01-09T13:25:54-08:00

E.3 Are there any alternative or renewable energy sources to power the carrier ship?

We hope so, and our architecture and commercial model for the vessels enable us to use the best available technology. People are working on batteries, Hydrogen, and Ammonia energy systems for ships. Others are working to capture the carbon from the engines. We will adopt the best technology that is available.

E.4 Do you require dynamic positioning (DP) vessels?Holly Nielsen2025-04-25T15:29:52-07:00

E.4 Do you require dynamic positioning (DP) vessels?

Yes, our current expectation is that some level of DP will be needed, and we continue to reduce this requirement with a target to minimize the use of this capability and ideally eliminate the need for installation of this capability. Our smart launch and recovery system (SLARS) has been designed with self-mobility of the hook to engage with the AUVs at a distance from the ship, enabling the potential for minimal use and capability of the ship’s DP, and potentially the elimination of this functionality altogether.

E.5 Does Impossible Metals architecture require a production support vessel?Holly Nielsen2025-01-09T13:36:32-08:00

E.5 Does Impossible Metals architecture require a production support vessel?

No. We avoid the cost and complexity of a production support vessel (PSV). Impossible Metals retrofits our smart launch and recovery system (SLARS) to the transport vessels. This has a massive saving in costs.

E.6 Does Impossible Metals require a ship-to-ship transfer in the ocean?Holly Nielsen2025-04-28T15:36:21-07:00

E.6 Does Impossible Metals require a ship-to-ship transfer in the ocean?

No. As we do not require a production support vessel (PSV) we do not need to do the following transfers to the Shuttle Transport And Resupply Ship (STARS):

Transfer of nodules from the PSV
Transfer of fuel to the PSV
Transport of equipment and provisions to the PSV
Transfer of personnel to and from the PSV per crew rotation.

This will be very expensive, and there are safety concerns. It will also reduce the number of days a year the mining operation can operate.

For more details, see STARS; the missing link in dsm supply chain.

E.7 How many days a year do you expect to be harvesting?Holly Nielsen2025-04-28T15:38:12-07:00

E.7 How many days a year do you expect to be harvesting?

As we do not have any tethers and have a smart launch and recovery system, we can operate in a much wider range of sea states. V6 of our economic model assumes we can operate for 325 days a year.