Seven new applications for approval of plans of work for exploration in the international Seabed Area were approved this morning by the Council of the International Seabed Authority as it nears conclusion of its work of the twentieth session in Kingston.

 Three plans of work were approved for exploration for polymetallic nodules to be carried out by United Kingdom Seabed Resources Ltd , Ocean Mineral Singapore Pte Ltd, and the Cook Islands Investment Corporation. The report and recommendations of the Legal and Technical Commission for these three applicants are contained in documents ISBA/20/C/5; ISBA/20/C/7, and ISBA/20/C/18 respectively.

 Two applications, from the Government of India (ISBA/20/C/6) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany (BGR) (ISBA/20/C/16) were approved for exploration for polymetallic sulphides.  The remaining two applications were submitted for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation (ISBA/20/C/4) and Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais, a Brazilian entity (ISBA/20/C/17).