NOAA invests US$21.6M in uncrewed survey vessels

“NOAA has a focus on integrating emerging technologies into agency operations,” said NOAA administrator Neil Jacobs.

“Uncrewed systems provide more efficiency in data collection, ensuring that our nation remains at the forefront of scientific innovation.”

In 2025, NOAA witnessed laying of the keels for two new unmanned charting and mapping vessels to expand its fleet.

Surveyor and Navigator, when completed, will complement traditional seafloor mapping methods by the agency and will support other data collection work, such as fisheries acoustic surveys.

“NOAA is uniquely positioned to leverage cutting-edge maritime technology to efficiently collect data in some of the ocean’s most challenging regions,” said NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations assistant administrator Rear Adm Chad Cary.

“Teaming these systems with Surveyor and Navigator achieves a major waypoint on the charted course to building the hybrid fleet of the future.”

NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations manages and operates NOAA’s fleet of 15 research and survey ships and 10 specialised environmental data-collecting aircraft.

The vessels, ranging from large oceanographic research vessels to smaller charting ships, support a wide range of marine activities, including fisheries surveys, nautical charting, and ocean and marine studies.