Economical, Technological and Environmental Aspects:
Cooperative Solutions For Future Deep-Sea Mining
Attendees of the 46th Underwater Mining Conference in Berlin, Germany. (Click on the image to see the larger version in a new window.)
46th Underwater Mining Conference
September 24 through 29, 2017
Federation of German Industries (BDI)
Breite Straße 29
Berlin, Germany
New! Due to added security measures, participants must register online by September 21 in order to receive a special bar code from our conference venue. This code and a photo ID must be presented to BDI security in order to enter the conference on 25 and 26 September.
The 46th Underwater Mining Conference is presented by the International Marine Minerals Society in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i, and the DeepSea Mining Alliance (DSMA). We will continue the well-tested format of the conference, which brings together world leaders from government, academia and industry to exchange information and ideas on underwater mining.
Our technical focuses in 2017 are the economical, technological and environmental aspects of cooperative solutions for future deep-sea mining. It will be an exciting conference for the next commercial, technological and environmental developments regarding deep-sea minerals, deep-sea mining and metallurgical processing of marine mineral resources.
The Hilton Berlin has been selected to provide participants with comfortable and convenient (walking distance to BDI meeting venue) accommodation. The block of single or double rooms are only available until August 4, 2017.
The conference will start at the Hilton Berlin on Sunday, September 24, with an evening registration and reception. Following will be two days (September 25 and 26) of technical and poster sessions at the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Concurrent to the September 26 session will be a special tour for spouses and guests only. That evening will be the UMC Banquet at the Hilton Berlin. Geotechnical Field Tours will commence thereafter from September 27 through 29, 2017.
At the Berlin venue, UMC will sponsor a closed meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Contractors with seabed claims to deposits of polymetallic nodules in the deep ocean beyond national jurisdictions. ISA Secretary General Michael Lodge will chair the meeting. We hope Secretary General Lodge and the Contractor representatives will take advantage of the opportunity also to attend the UMC Technical Sessions and Geotechnical Field tours with the rest of the UMC participants.
Mark your calendars to join us in Germany. Berlin, the German capital, has about 3.5 million inhabitants and it covers 892 square kilometres, nearly nine times the size of Paris. There are more than 180 kilometres of navigable waterways within Berlin. Berlin has the world’s largest universal museum stands in the heart of the city. The renovation and reorganization of the Museum Island with its five monumental buildings belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1999 and it is post-war Germany’s most ambitious cultural project.
Key Deadlines
Call for Papers (abstract submissions): May 31, 2017
September 24 (Sunday)
19:00–21:00
Hilton Berlin(Salon Corinth/Salon Humboldt)
Welcome “Get Together” and Registration
September 25 (Monday)
08:30–18:00
Federation of German Industries (BDI)
First conference day (technical session I) 18:00-20:00
Exhibitors’ Event
September 26 (Tuesday)
08:30–18:00
Federation of German Industries (BDI)
Second conference day (technical session II)
September 26 (Tuesday)
Departs at 09:30
Spouse’s Boat Tour of Berlin and Charlottenburg Palace. USD 130. (Note: Tour is closed)
This is a delightful boat tour on the rivers and channels in central Berlin, with a tour of Charlottenburg Palace; includes lunch.
Download the Spouse’s Tour description PDF (updated 09-13-17).
September 26 (Tuesday)
19:00–22:00
Hilton Berlin (Restaurant Beletage)
UMC banquet
September 27 (Wednesday)
Hilton Berlin
Contractors Meeting (by invitation only)
September 27–29 (Wednesday–Friday)
Geotechnical Field Tour (optional)
Departing from Hilton Berlin in the afternoon on Sept 27
Returning to the Hilton Berlin in the late afternoon on Sept 29. Hotel reservations at the Hilton or other hotel for Sept 29 and beyond must be made at the individual's discretion and separately from the UMC.
New! Participants in Field Tour I and Field II should be prepared for rather fresh, windy, and possibly rainy weather. Suitable clothes (warm and watertight) and footwear (shoes or boots) are highly recommended. For Field Tour II, the walk is about 1.5 hours and while at the underground mine "Reiche Zeche" special shoes and a helmet will be provided. Field Tour II participants should bring their own gloves. Tour description PDFs have been updated with the attire information added.
Field Tour Option I with Dr. Peter Haibach of Free University (Note: Tour is closed)
Destinations may include Rammelsberg, Goslar, Harz/Lower Saxony, Stowing Mine Bleicherode, and Sollstedt/Thuringia.
Download the Field Tour Option I description PDF (updated 09-17-17)
Field Tour Option II with Dr. Thomas Kuhn of BGR (Note: Tour is closed)
Destinations may include University of Resources, Technical University, Freiberg/Saxony, Silver Mine “Reiche Zeche”, and tin mining area in the Ore Mountains.
Download the Field Tour Option II description PDF (updated 09-17-17)
Important Updates and Forms
IMPORTANT UPDATE as of 9/5/17: BDI Conference Entry Requirement
Each registered conference participant will receive a special code by email. This code and an ID card or passport with a photo must be presented at the security gate to enter the BDI (Federation of German Industries) conference venue. Please contact the Conference Coordinator Karynne Morgan at karynnem@hawaii.edu if there are any questions.
Travelers Tip: Berlin Tegal Airport to Hilton Berlin Taxi
Outside of baggage claim, taxi rank is to the right and moves quite quickly.
Fare estimate is 25€.
(Click on the thumbnail to see the full image.)
IMPORTANT: THE UMC 2017 ROOM BLOCK IS NOW CLOSED. Please contact the Hilton Berlin at Reservations.Berlin@hilton.com for the availability of rooms at current rates. For an alternate option, please contact the Conference Coordinator.