American Ocean Minerals Highlights Moana Minerals AUV Survey Capturing More Than 600,000 Seafloor Images in the Cook Islands

American Ocean Minerals Highlights Moana Minerals AUV Survey Capturing More Than 600,000 Seafloor Images in the Cook Islands

Ten-day Armada 8605 campaign adds high-resolution photographic, sonar, and environmental data to Moana Minerals’ EL3 environmental baseline program

• Three HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicles (“AUVs”) – deployed from Ocean Infinity’s Armada 8605 – mapped and photographed the seafloor at a depth of more than 5,000 meters.

• Survey covered approximately 1,000 km² within Exploration License 3 (“EL3”), generating more than 600,000 seafloor photographs plus synthetic aperture sonar imagery and environmental sensor data in the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone.

• The campaign complements the broader MV Anuanua Moana baseline program with higher-resolution coverage of a smaller area.

• Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted analysis will be utilized to improve environmental and resource assessments, while supporting data sharing in the Cook Islands.

TAMPA, Fla. & RAROTONGA, Cook Islands–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
American Ocean Minerals Corporation (“AOMC”), which is building a responsible supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements through its previously announced merger with Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ: OMEX), today highlighted Moana Minerals Ltd.’s (“Moana Minerals” or “MML”) completion of a high-definition autonomous underwater vehicle seafloor survey within its Exploration License 3 (“EL3”) area in the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (“EEZ”), producing one of the most detailed photographic datasets collected to date within EL3.

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The lean-crewed Armada 8605, part of Ocean Infinity’s Armada fleet of vessels designed to deploy advanced underwater robotic systems for offshore data collection, deployed three HUGIN AUVs equipped with cameras, side-scan sonar, and environmental sensors. Over approximately ten days, the AUVs generated more than 600,000 seafloor photographs and detailed mapping datasets across targeted areas of EL3. The campaign continued Moana Minerals’ ongoing survey and research activities.

“This campaign reflects exactly how Moana Minerals believes seabed minerals work should be advanced: through real science that can inform decision-making,” said Hans Smit, Chief Executive Officer of Moana Minerals. “By engaging Armada 8605 while it was already operating in the region, we added a highly valuable high-definition dataset to our environmental baseline program without requiring a separate vessel mobilization. The result is a sharper, more detailed picture of the EL3 seafloor that will inform regulators, stakeholders, and the people of the Cook Islands as future decisions are considered.”

While the MV Anuanua Moana program collects broad physical, chemical, biological and geological baseline data across multiple survey areas and seasons, the Armada 8605 survey concentrated on a smaller target area at higher resolution, adding a new layer of detail to Moana Minerals’ environmental and resource work in the Cook Islands.

The photographic, sonar and environmental sensor data will enhance understanding of seafloor conditions, habitat characteristics, polymetallic nodule distribution and abundance, and environmental variability within EL3, supporting Moana Minerals’ ongoing environmental baseline program, future Environmental and Social Impact Assessment work, resource definition activities and engagement with Cook Islands regulators and stakeholders.

Data processing and quality control are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026. Moana Minerals plans to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to the imagery to identify, count and characterize nodules and seafloor life, laying the groundwork for one of the first comprehensive AI-based assessments of the Cook Islands deep seafloor environment. Consistent with its license and data-transparency commitments in the Cook Islands, the resulting data, including raw imagery and AI-derived analysis, will be shared with the Cook Islands and, over time, made accessible to all researchers in support of AOMC’s commitment to data sharing and scientific research.

“Every responsible decision starts with understanding the data and science,” said Tom Albanese, Chairman of AOMC. “This survey gives Moana Minerals and the Cook Islands another important dataset to evaluate the seafloor environment with greater precision. It is part of a broader commitment to measure first, understand better and support future decisions with evidence.”

The survey builds on the recently completed MV Anuanua Moana Expedition 7 campaign, which advanced environmental baseline research in EL3, and was conducted pursuant to Moana Minerals’ approved exploration planning process and applicable Cook Islands requirements.

About American Ocean Minerals Corporation

American Ocean Minerals Corporation is establishing a responsible global supply chain for critical minerals and rare earth elements sourced from polymetallic nodules. AOMC is being built as a platform company focused on responsible deep-sea exploration, environmental science, harvesting technology, logistics, processing, and commercialization across multiple regulatory pathways, including investments in companies with exploration licenses in the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone and international waters regulated under DSHMRA. Upon completion of its proposed merger with Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., the combined company is expected to operate as American Ocean Minerals Corporation and trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “AOMC,” subject to stockholder approvals, regulatory approvals, Nasdaq approval, and other customary closing conditions. To learn more, please visit www.aomusa.com.

About Ocean Minerals, LLC (OML)

Ocean Minerals, LLC, through its wholly owned subsidiary Moana Minerals Ltd, is a deepwater critical minerals exploration and development company focused on advancing polymetallic nodule resource exploration within the exclusive economic zone of the Cook Islands. In August 2025, an S-K 1300 Initial Assessment reported an indicated mineral resource of 417 million tonnes with an abundance of 26.7 kg/m² as well as an inferred mineral resource of 102 million tonnes with an abundance of 26 kg/m². Through its subsidiary, Moana Minerals Ltd., OML holds an exploration license granted by the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority. Upon completion of the merger of AOMC and Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (“Odyssey”) and related transactions (the “Transaction”), AOMC is expected to hold 100% of the membership interests of OML. Learn more at www.moanaminerals.com.

About Odyssey Marine Exploration

Odyssey is an ocean exploration and marine resource development leader with more than 30 years of experience operating in complex offshore environments worldwide. Odyssey is building a diversified portfolio of projects that focus on seafloor mineral resources that can contribute practical solutions to global challenges, including food security, energy transition, and supply-chain resilience.

Offering comprehensive research, marine operations, and regulatory compliance support, Odyssey works with governments and seafloor rights holders worldwide. Odyssey develops its projects in collaboration with a global network of partners, academics, and industry professionals who share its commitment to environmentally sound solutions for obtaining minerals that address present and future global challenges. Learn more at www.odysseymarine.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding AOMC’s regulatory strategy; the expected review of AOM Area-1 LLC’s consolidated application by NOAA; the potential issuance of both an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit; the timing, scope, and outcome of any environmental review, public process, or regulatory determination; the proposed merger between AOMC and Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.; the expected ownership, capitalization, Nasdaq listing, and strategic direction of the combined company; potential future exploration, harvesting, recovery, processing, commercialization, and offtake activities; expected resource potential; and AOMC’s ability to build a critical minerals supply chain.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and projections and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that NOAA may require additional information, impose conditions, delay review, or decline to issue any license or permit; uncertainty regarding the scope, timing, and outcome of environmental review and public process; risks relating to DSHMRA and other regulatory frameworks; uncertainties relating to polymetallic nodule resource estimates; the fact that inferred mineral resources are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them to enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves; risks relating to deep-sea exploration, environmental monitoring, harvesting technology, vessel conversion, processing, financing, and commercialization; commodity price volatility; supply chain constraints; geopolitical, legal, and environmental risks; and risks relating to the completion of the proposed merger with Odyssey, including required stockholder approvals, regulatory approvals, Nasdaq approval, financing conditions, and other customary closing conditions.

AOMC undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. Nothing in this press release should be interpreted as a representation that NOAA has issued, or will issue, an exploration license, commercial recovery permit, or other approval, or that any mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve or economically recovered.

Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger Transaction between Odyssey and AOM, Odyssey has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4, which includes a document that serves as a prospectus and proxy statement of Odyssey (the “proxy statement/prospectus”), and Odyssey will file other documents regarding the proposed Transaction with the SEC. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OR AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to Odyssey’s stockholders. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain these documents free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

In addition, investors and stockholders should note that Odyssey communicates with investors and the public using its website, www.odysseymarine.com, and the investor relations website, https://ir.odysseymarine.com, where anyone will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Odyssey with the SEC. Stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed Transaction.

Participants in the Solicitation

Odyssey, AOMC, and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees and certain of their respective significant stockholders may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Odyssey and AOMC stockholders in respect of the proposed Transaction. Information about Odyssey’s directors and executive officers is available in Odyssey’s proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 21, 2026, for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and Odyssey’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026.

Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holding or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed or to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed Transaction. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. Free copies of these documents may be obtained from the SEC and Odyssey as indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

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KEYWORDS: Australia/Oceania Cook Islands United States North America Florida

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Science Research Natural Resources Environment Maritime Other Natural Resources Transport Mining/Minerals

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Photo

Ocean Infinity’s Armada 8605 deployed HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicles to capture more than 600,000 high-resolution images of the seafloor within Moana Minerals’ EL3 exploration area in the Cook Islands.