Page 11 - Demo

ThepotentialofsubsearoboticsisenormousAccording to theUSDepartment of CommercesInternationalTradeAdministrationtheglobalmarket for subsearoboticsisprojected to exceedUS$7billionby2025drivenbyarobustannualgrowthrateof151%TheAsia-PacificregionisexpectedtoleadthisexpansionfuelledbyincreasedinterestinoilandgasexplorationandtherisingdemandforseabedmineralresourcesAssubsearoboticscontinuetoevolvetheyareredefininghowoffshoreindustriesapproachsafetyandefficiencypavingthewayforamoresustainableandinnovativefuturebeneaththewavesTheOffshoreIndustrysNewFrontierDeep-SeaMiningInagroundbreakingdiscoverybetweenAprilandJune2024Japanesescientistsidentifiedanestimated230milliontonnesofrareearthmineralsontheseabednearMinami-TorishimaislandJapanValuedatanastonishingUS$263billion(S$355billion)thisfindcapturedglobalattention forits economicpotential and strategicsignificanceThedepositrichinnickelmanganeseandcobaltispoisedtoplayapivotalroleinsupportingJapansgreeneconomyoverthenextdecadeThesemineralsareessentialforproducingelectricvehicle(EV)batteriesacornerstoneofsustainabletransportationHistoricallyJapanandmanyothernationshavedependedonimportsfromChinaandAfricancountries which dominate therare earthmineralmarketThisdiscoverymarksasignificantsteptowardsreducingJapansrelianceonforeignsourcesAsnationsandcorporationsincreaseeffortstoaccessunderwaterresourcesthedeepseaisbecomingacriticalfocusforexplorationandextractionTheoffshoreindustrysupportedbyadvancesinsubsearoboticsplaysakeyroleinthesedevelopmentsAutonomousunderwatervehicles(AUVs)andremotelyoperatedvehicles(ROVs)areessentialtoolsforsurveyingandextractingresourcesinthechallengingconditionsofthedeepoceanwhereextremepressuresmakehumanexplorationimpracticalTheintegrationofcutting-edgeIndustry40technologiessuchashigh-resolutionsonarLightDetectionandRanging(LiDAR)sensorsandunderwatercamerasisenhancingthecapabilitiesofsubsearoboticsHigh-resolutionsonar enables penetration of murky waters whileLiDARgeneratesprecise3DmapsofunderwaterterrainsThesetoolsaresettorevolutioniseresourceexplorationandextractioninthedeepseaCurrentlymanyoftheAUVsdeployedinJapanaremanufacturedoverseasRecognisingtheirstrategicimportanceinmarineandoffshoreactivities the Japanese governmentis advancingplanstoindustrialisedomesticAUVproductionby2030TheseplansoutlinethedevelopmentofthreedistinctAUVmodels•Acutting-edgemodelcapableofoperatingatdepthsbeyond3000metres•Asmallcost-effectivemodeldesignedfor shallow waters and mass production•SpecialisedmodelstailoredtospecifictasksAstheoffshoreindustrystepsintothisneweraofdeep-seaminingthesynergybetweentechnologicalinnovationandnationalstrategyissettingthestagefortransformativedevelopmentsWithitsimmensepotentialdeep-seaminingpromisestoreshapetheglobalresourcelandscapeanddriveforwardtheindustriesoftomorrowTheMarineandOffshoreIndustryInnovatingintothe21stCenturyAswemovefurtherintothe21stcenturythedemandforrenewableenergyandsustainabledevelopmentcontinuestogrowTheoffshoreindustryismeetingthesechallengesbyleveragingadvancedtechnologiestobuildandmaintainoffshorewindfarmsandtoexplorecriticalresourceslikerareearthmineralsAtthesametimethemarineindustryistransformingglobaltradethroughIndustry40technologiessuchasdataanalyticsautomationandautonomousshippingTheseadvancementsaredrivinganeweraforglobalcommercewhereautomationandautonomous shipping arepoised torevolutionisehowshipsnavigateandportsoperate–markinganexcitingtransformationalshiftinthemaritimesector9