Appoints Mark Handin

DEEP SEA MINERALS CORP. APPOINTS MARK HANDIN AS

STRATEGIC ADVISOR

Vancouver, BC, February 17, 2026 – Deep Sea Minerals Corp . (CSE: SEAS ) (OTC QB:

DSEAF) (FSE: X45) ("Deep Sea Minerals" or the "Company"), a subsea mineral exploration

and development company focused on advancing critical mineral opportunities from the deep

ocean, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Han din as a Strategic Advisor to the

Company.

Mr. Handin is a seasoned international business executive with over 27 years of leadership

experience in the offshore maritime, transportation, and oilfield services sectors and currently

serves as President of Patriot Maritime. Under Mr. Handin’s leadership, Patriot Maritime oversees

a fleet of 23 vessels supporting major U.S. government clients, including the Military Sealift

Command (MSC) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD), with responsibility spanning

operations, safety, compliance, customer relations, and overall P&L perf ormance. Mr. Handin

previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Supply Service, overseeing global

offshore operations including subsea projects and deep-sea mining–adjacent activities.

In his role as Strategic Advisor, Mr. Handin will provide high- level strategic advice to the

Company’s executive team, drawing on his extensive experience in global maritime operations,

offshore energy development, government and defense contracting, joint venture structuring,

regulatory compliance, and large -scale project execution across multiple international

jurisdictions. Mr. Handin’s insights will support the Company as it advances its exploration and

development programs and engages with stakeholders across the industry.

“We are excited to welcome Mark Handin as a Strategic Advisor,” said James Deckelman, Chief

Executive Officer of Deep Sea Minerals C orp. “Mark brings a skill set and experience base that

are essential to the Company at this transformational moment in the critical minerals sector.”

Mr. Handin’s appointment is purely advisory in nature, and he will not assume any role as an

officer or director of the Company.

Pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan and subject to regulatory approval, the Company

has granted 75,000 stock options (the “ Options”) to Mr. Ha ndin in connection with his

appointment as Strategic Advisor to the Company. Each option is exercisable to acquire one

common share in the capital of the Company (a “Share”) at an exercise price equal to the market

price of the Shares on the date of grant, for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant,

provided that Mr. Handin continues to provide services to the Company.

ABOUT DEEP SEA MINERALS CORP.

Deep Sea Minerals Corp. is a subsea mineral exploration and development company focused on

evaluating opportunities to support the future supply of critical minerals through the acquisition,

exploration, and development of deep-sea mineral assets.

The Company’s strategy is centered on identifying jurisdictions and geological settings with

potential exposure to polymetallic nodule systems, which are recognized for containing

combinations of metals that may be relevant to defense, industrial manufactu ring, clean energy

infrastructure, advanced electronics, and artificial intelligence-related supply chains. These seabed

resources represent a largely undeveloped component of the global mineral supply base and are the

subject of increasing policy, scientific, and regulatory attention worldwide.

As part of this process, the Company has commenced early -stage engagement with select ed

governments and regulatory bodies in the Pacific Ocean region to assess potential pathways for

future exploration initiatives, subject to applicable international, national, and environmental

frameworks.

For further information, please see the Company’s website: https://www.deepseamineralscorp.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepseacorp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepseacorp

X: https://x.com/deepseacorp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepseacorp

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepseacorp

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

“James A. Deckelman”

James A. Deckelman, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

James A. Deckelman

Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 1-281-467-1279

Email: [email protected]

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of

this release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward- looking information" that is subject to a number of

assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to Company’s plans, objectives and

strategies, expected benefits of subsea mineral exploration and development, and are subject to

all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Although the Company believes

the expectations expressed in such forward-l ooking statements are based on reasonable

assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may

differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.