We have a pleasure to present the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM), a scientific international organization established with the objective of conducting the exploration, prospecting and in the future also exploitation of polymetallic nodules in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Convention has provided a foundation for an international maritime organizations dealing with the exploration and exploitation of their mineral resources in the spirit of the common heritage of mankind. This idea is of the utmost importance for our organization. From 1992 to 2001 the IOM was registered as a pioneer investor under the Resolution 2 of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. Since 2001 the IOM has had a status of a contractor with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) under the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention and the respective regulations.

The IOM makes extensive use of the research and technical potential of its member states and the international cooperation with other ISA contractors as well as potential investors in the exploration stage, in accordance with the “Programme of activities for exploration of deep sea polymetallic nodules” approved by the ISA Council.