Marine operations require consideration of natural systems like weather, hydrology, geology, and biology. They also require ships and platforms, power sources, navigation tools, communication systems, and other technologies. Ships and platforms can be airborne, floating, submerged, or seabed-contacting, and are used to support equipment, work with seabed materials, and transport personnel and cargo. They come in various types including self-propelled or stationary, manned or unmanned designs. Power sources for marine operations face limitations similar to remote land areas and must be selected based on required power levels, available equipment, and cost.

2. PRE-REQUISITES OF
MARINE operations

3. Natural Systems
 Weather
 Air Quality
 Hydrological Systems
 Geological Systems
 Biological Systems

4.  Ships & Platforms
 Power Sources
 Environmental Forecasting
 Navigation & Survey Systems
 Positioning & Control
 Communication & Data Processing

5. SHIPS & PLATFORMS:
 Three basic functions:
Support of equipment for observation and
measurement
Support of tools and equipment for working with
seabed materials
 Transportation of personnel and materials

6. Types of PLATFORMS:
 Airborne, floating, submerged, or in contact with the
bottom
 Self-propelled or stationary
 Manned or unmanned
 Design of marine platforms is a very specialized
subject

7.  Platforms in Contact with the Bottom:
Do not as yet constitute a major requirement
in marine mining, but are likely to be more important
in the future
 Stationary platforms:
Used in the extraction of sulphur by the
Frasch process and in the development of
underground mines from artificial islands.

8. POWER SOURCES:
 Subject to many of the same limitations applying to
remote areas on land.
 Selection of the optimum power source must be
weighed against the following factors:
Amount of power required, including peak power and
sustained load.
 Availability of suitable generating equipment.
 Cost.