International Joint Organization (IOM) is an international consortium, set up in April 1987, to survey and explore polymetallic nodule deposits in the area allotted by the International Seabed Authority. In 2001 IOM signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority for exploration of polymetallic nodules in the 75,000 km2 area situated in the eastern part of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the eastern equatorial Pacific to prepare commercial development of the nodules. An actual question seems the application of the United Nations International Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources for the polymetallic nodules resources evaluation. This paper brings some topics for a discussion concerned to this problem.
There are two purposes of this paper. First - to give a fundamental information about Interoceanmetal Joint Organization and its activities in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the eastern equatorial Pacific, be aimed to prepare commercial development of the polymetallic nodules. Second aim is an attempt, to appeal a discussion about an application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Reserves/Resources in the circumstances of the polymetallic nodule deposits.
The Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (further IOM) was formed on 27 April 1987, based on the Intergovernmental Agreement signed by Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Poland, USSR and Vietnam, and started operation in December that year. In 1989, Vietnam withdrew from the Organization, while in 1991, Germany followed suit in the wake of the unification. In January 1992, Russian Federation took over the responsibilities of the former USSR. On 31 December 1992, Czech Republic and Slovakia as two sovereign states divided the responsibilities of the former Czechoslovakia between themselves. Thus the IOM member states at present are: Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Poland, Russian Federation and Slovakia.
