Wow - though "ours" seems a little premature - they're applications rather than granted licences. Maybe someone else we know will be competing?
On the other hand, perhaps Nautilus might have agreed to give Neptune a free run at Conical Seamount in exchange for quid pro quo in the Bismark Sea?
Also glad to hear Kermadec 07 is shaping up at last.
Bit late to be telling us of Justin Baulch & Chandra Wijeratne - the website's had them up there since I started looking into Neptune.