A Canadian venture with backing from maritime and trading companies is forging plans for a fleet to support its deepsea mining plans.

Seabed mining company DeepGreen Metals plans to charter converted bulkers, and build or convert a production fleet, to exploit and transport up to 1.6bn tonnes of sea-bottom minerals.

The outfit is set to go public as TMC The Metals Co through a proposed transaction with a US blank-cheque company.