IOM’s major task is to carry out exploration of polymetallic nodules in the claimed area. Data and samples are collected during exploration cruises. Cruises are accomplished independently or in cooperation with other organizations, providing wide range of geological, hydrological, hydro-meteorological and environmental data.
Exploration scientific cruises
| YEAR | RESEARCH VESSEL (R/V) | EXPLORATION ACTIVITY |
| 1987-1988 | 17 Syezd Profsoyuzov | Regional geological and geophysical reconnaissance, preliminary CDC+CTD survey, sediment and polymetallic nodules sampling, geochemical and mineralogical determination, preliminary environmental assessment |
| 1988-1989 | Geolog Petr Antropov | |
| 1988-1989 | Geofyzik | |
| 1988-1989 | Akademik Alexandr Karpinski | |
| 1989 | Akademik Alexandr Sidorenko | |
| 1989 | Mikolaj Kopernik | |
| 1989 | Morskoy Geolog | |
| 1989 | Akademik Alexandr Sidorenko | |
| 1989-1990 | Geolog Petr Antropov | |
| 1989-1990 | Profesor Fedinskiy | |
| 1989-1990 | Akademik Alexandr Sidorenko | |
| 1989-1990 | Geolog Fersman | |
| 1994 | Haiyang IV | lOM/COMRA – baseline investigation |
| 1994 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | IOM/MMAJ – participation in BIE/JET test |
| 1994 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | Baseline investigation, selection of IOM/BIE site |
| 1995 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | Detailed exploration in IOM/BIE site with the participation of the UN trainees |
| 1995 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | IOM/BIE test with the participation of pioneer investors |
| 1996 | Sonne | lOM/VWS – participation in geotechnical investigation and environmental monitoring (Peru Basin) |
| 1997 | Profesor Logatschev | Meiobiological and ecological monitoring in IOM/BIE site and detailed exploration of site adjoining nodule occurrence – Preservation Reference Area (PRA) |
| 1999 | Gelendzhik | Detailed bathymetric survey of the whole IOM claim areas (B1, B2) with multi-beam sonar SIMRAD EM 12- Kongsberg/Norway |
| 2001 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | Deep-tow photographic survey, nodule and sediment box-corer sampling, trawling, gravity coring, sediments and pore water investigations, meiobenthos study in B2 sector. Water column and hydro meteorological observations |
| 2004 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | Nodule and sediment box-corer sampling, trawling, dredging and hydro meteorological observations in B2 sector |
| 2009 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | Side-scan sonar surveys, photo profiling, nodule and sediment box-corer sampling, trawling and hydro meteorological observations in H11 block |
| 2014 | Yuzhmorgeologiya | Side-scan sonar surveys, photo and video profiling, nodule and sediment box-corer sampling, biological sampling, trawling and hydro meteorological observations in H11 block |
| 2018 | Gelendzhik | Detailed bathymetric survey of exploration blocks H11, H22, H33 and H44 |
| 2019 | Gelendzhik | Side-scan sonar surveys, photo and video profiling, nodule and sediment box-corer and gravity-corer sampling, biological sampling and hydro meteorological observations in exploration blocks H22 and H33 |