DEEPSEA VENTURES, INc.: NoTICE oF DISCOVERY AND CLAIM OF EXcLUSIVE MINING 
RIGHTS, AND REQUEST FOR DIPLOMATIC PROTECTION AND PROTECTION OF 
INVESTMENT + 
[Filed, November 15, 1974] 
NOVEMBER 14, 1974. 
Hon. Henry A. KIssrinacer, 
Secretary of State, 
U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 
NOTICE OF DISCOVERY AND CLAIM OF EXCLUSIVE MINING RIGHTS, AND REQUEST FOR 
DIPLOMATIC PROTECTION AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENT, BY DEEPSEA VENTURES, INC. 
My DEAR Mr. SECRETARY: Deepsea Ventures, Inc., a Delaware corporation 
having its principal place of business in the County of Gloucester, The Common- 
wealth of Virginia, U.S.A., respectfully makes of record, by filing with your 
office this Notice of Discovery and Claim of Exclusive Mining Rights and Re- 
quest for Diplomatic Protection and Protection of Investment, by Deepsea 
Ventures, Inc. (hereinafter ’’Claim’”’), as authorized by its Board of Directors 
by resolution dated 30 October 1974, a certified copy of which is annexed hereto 
as Exhibit A [not reproduced]. 
Notice of Discovery and Claim of Exclusive Mining Rights 
Deepsea Ventures, Inc., (hereinafter ‘“Deepsea’’), hereby gives public notice 
that it has discovered and taken possession of, and is now engaged in develop- 
ing and evaluating, as the first stages of mining, a deposit of seabed man- 
ganese nodules (hereinafter “Deposit’’). The Deposit, illustrated by the sketch 
annexed as Exhibit B, is encompassed by, and extends to, lines drawn between 
the coordinates numbered in series below, as follows: [I.L.M. page 57] 
From: (i) Latitude 15°44’ N., Longitude 124°20’ W. A line drawn West 
to: (2) Latitude 15°44’ N., Longitude 127°46’ W. And thence South to: 
(3) Latitude 14°16’ N., Longitude 127°46’ W. And thence East to: (4) 
Latitude 14°16’ N., Longitude 124°20’ W. and thence North to the point 
or origin. 
These lines include approximately 60,000 square kilometers for purposes of 
development and evaluation of the Deposit encompassed therein, which area 
will be reduced by Deepsea to 30,000 square kilometers upon expiration of a 
term of 15 years (absent force majeure) from the date of this notice or upon 
commencement (absent force majeure) of commercial production from the De- 
posit, whichever event occurs first. The Deposit lies on the abyssal ocean floor 
in water depths ranging between 2,300 to 5,000 meters and is more than 1000 
kilometers from the nearest island, and more than 1300 kilometers seaward 
of the outer edge of the nearest continental margin. It is beyond the limits of 
seabed jurisdiction presently claimed by any State. The overlying waters are, of 
course, high seas. 
The general area of the Deposit was identified in August of 1964 by the 
predecessor in interest of Deepsea, and the Deposit was discovered by Deep- 
sea on August 31, 1969. 
1 Reproduction from the text provided _to International Legal Materials by Deepsea Ven- 
tures, Inc. The Notice was filed in the office of the U.S. Secretary of State on Nov. 15, 1974. 
An original was also filed and recorded as: (1) Deed Poll No. 1659 in_the Office of the 
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Gloucester County, Virginia on Noy. 15, 1974; and (2) Deed 
Poll No. 02421 in the Office of the Recorder of New Castle County, Delaware on Noy. 22, 
1974. Conies were also sent to 'the addressees listed in Exhibit E at LLM. page 63. 
As of Jan. 15, 1975, there had been two responses to ‘the notice: (1) a U.S. Department 
of State statement made available in response to press inquiries, and (2) a response from 
the Embassy of Canada at Washington, D.C. These appear respectively at I.L.M. pages 66 
and 67. As other responses become available, I.L.M. will attempt to carry the text. 
The Opinion of the Law Offices of Northcutt Ely on ‘International Law Applicable to 
Deepsea Mining,’ submitted to Deepsea Ventures, Inc., on Noy. 14, 1974, is available at 
the Library of the American Society of International Law. 
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