From August 14 – September 9, 2025, 8 CSSF team members supported the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) aboard the R/V Isabu for their MIRAE 2025 Expedition. The science team’s objectives were to implement their new drilling program for subsea crust. [Add: More context from the science team]. Our team’s main objective was to drill as many crust core samples as possible.

From November 8 – December 4, 2025, 9 CSSF team members supported the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) aboard the R/V Isabu for their 2024 Pacific Ocean Expedition, which is part of a continuing program to survey remote seamounts for rare earth minerals in the Western Pacific Ocean. [Add: More context from the science team]. Our team’s objectives were to both conduct video transects and execute crust coring at the seamounts of interest using our Korean Remotely Operated Coring System (KROCS).

From May 3 – June 13, 2025, 8 CSSF team members supported the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) aboard the R/V Isabu for their 2025 Indian Ocean Expedition. The scientific objective was to detect mineral resources beneath the seafloor. [Add: Science Team objectives, expedition participants, work that required the use of an ROV].

Read more: KIOST’s 2025 Indian Ocean Expedition

From August 12 – September 2, 2024, 6 CSSF team members supported Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Region (DFO Pacific) aboard the CCGS John P. Tully for the Northeast Pacific Deep-sea Exploration Project’s (NEPDEP) 2024 expedition. The focus of this expedition was to discover, explore and monitor deep-sea ecosystems. Specifically, this included ‘Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas’ in existing, planned and potential marine protected areas (MPAs). In addition to members of DFO, ship- and shore-based participants included scientists and professionals from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Canadian BioGenome Project, Council of the Haida Nation, Hakai Institute, NOAA Fisheries, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Royal BC Museum, University of Calgary, University of Gothenburg, University of Victoria and University of Washington.

Read more: NEPDEP 2024 Expedition