Odyssey Marine Exploration, Tampa, Fla., announced that it has submitted an Unsolicited Request for Lease Sale of Marine Mineral Exploration and Development Rights to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Odyssey’s request is among the first under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) of 1953 in U.S. jurisdiction under BOEM’s oversight.
The company said the proposed area lies on the Mid-Atlantic OCS and contains heavy mineral sands with titanium, zirconium, rare earth elements, and phosphate. These materials support a wide range of U.S. manufacturing, defense, and agricultural needs, the company said in a statement. Odyssey noted that any associated sand and gravel could also contribute to coastal resiliency projects.
“If Odyssey is successful in obtaining the proposed lease, it will represent another step in Odyssey’s strategy to expand its diverse portfolio and unlock new seafloor resource opportunities,” Chairman and CEO Mark Gordon said. He cited increasing federal attention and funding for domestic critical mineral supply chains, including interest in ocean-based sources.
If BOEM decides to proceed with a lease sale and Odyssey secures development rights, the company said it would begin with environmental and geological surveys to support resource assessment and project design. Any future recovery work would rely on shallow-water dredging, a method widely used for navigation and coastal protection. Odyssey said the lease block was chosen to avoid sensitive habitats, protected areas, and major maritime traffic zones.
“Odyssey looks forward to working closely with BOEM and engaging constructively with various interested stakeholders throughout their review process,” Gordon said.
Odyssey Marine said the company has operated in ocean exploration for more than 30 years and has been pre-qualified by BOEM to hold mineral leases since 2021. The company highlighted that its ability to advance the project would be supported by its collaboration with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, Houston.
