The Board of Management for the Polymetallic Nodules Programme met twice during the year in June 1991 and January 1992. The Board reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the programme by various agencies involved. Matters relating to refined exploration, completion of bathymetric maps, fine scale visualisation of seabed nodule distribution in the pioneer area, development of a test mining system and work plan for commissioning of metallurgical pilot plants were discussed in , depth. In order to meet requirements of the nodules for supporting pilot plant operations during the next phase it was decided that four cruises annually of the CSIR vessel RV Gaveshani, after its recommissioning would be utilised for collecting nodules as well as environmental data. Representatives from various participating laboratories informed the Board about the progress! in the implementation. The Director, Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur gave a presentation of the design and current stage of development of the mining system with special reference to the development of the trawler, the collecting unit, bucket-in-pipe riser and future targets including the .shallow water testing facility. Representatives of National Metallurgical Laboratory and Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar informed that the work for erection and the commissioning of the proposed pilot plants was more or less proceeding as per schedule and would be completed by March 1992. Hindustan Zinc Limited, Udaipur, however, would complete its work by December 1992. According to the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa refined seabed exploration using hydrosweep system was completed in about 75% of the pioneer area and the remaining area would be covered during 92--93. Hydrosweep data was utilised for 3-dimensional mapping.