NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson Returns to the Great Lakes to Map the Region
For the first time since 2022, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is underway in the Great Lakes. The vessel and its crew of NOAA Corps officers and professional mariners are working with NOAA scientists to map the waters of western and central Lake Erie and eastern Lake Ontario this year to improve navigation safety. Survey work will also occur within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary to identify critical habitats located within the area.Western Lake Erie, one of the shallowest areas within the Great Lakes marine transportation system, is highly trafficked by commercial and recreational vessels and
Hanwha Ocean Partners with Thordon Bearings on Canadian Submarine Bid
focuses on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program, one of the largest conventional submarine procurement programs currently planned, under which Hanwha Ocean has been selected as one of two qualified suppliers by the Canadian government.Hanwha Ocean said the partnership would examine opportunities for cooperation on submarine subsystems and lifecycle support capabilities in Canada if it secures the program award.Thordon Bearings, based in Burlington, Ontario, manufactures oil-free bearing systems used in naval vessels and submarines.Its bearing systems are already installed on Royal Canadian Navy
U.S. Coast Guard Counters Maritime Threats With New Special Missions Command
The Coast Guard is standing up the Special Missions Command to oversee its deployable specialized forces. The command will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Coast Guard in responding to a wide range of national emergencies and events as the demand for deployable specialized forces capabilities increase. The Coast Guard selected the existing Coast Guard C5I Service Center facility in Kearneysville, West Virginia, as the future site of the Coast Guard’s Special Missions Command (SMC). The SMC will be commissioned on or around October 1, 2026, fully integrating the Service’s
Baker Hughes, Strohm Partner On UltraDeepwater Flowlines and Risers
Baker Hughes and thermoplastic composite pipe manufacturer Strohm have signed an agreement to jointly develop a hybrid flexible pipe for ultradeepwater flowline and riser applications.The companies said the new solution is aimed at offshore projects in water depths exceeding 3,000 metres, as operators seek lower-cost and lower-risk technologies for deepwater developments.The hybrid flexible pipe combines thermoplastic composite pipe technology with conventional flexible pipe systems, replacing the standard carcass, liner and pressure armour with TCP while retaining tension armour, outer coating and
DeepOcean Carries Out First Onshore-Managed Subsea Intervention
DeepOcean has completed its first subsea intervention project with offshore operational leadership managed from shore, carrying out the work for Aker BP at the Idun Nord field in the Norwegian Sea.The operation involved a work-class remotely operated vehicle managed from DeepOcean’s remote operating centre in Haugesund, Norway, while a second ROV was operated from the project vessel offshore.The scope included subsea crane operations and close-proximity vessel positioning, activities that would normally require offshore personnel on board for up to two weeks, DeepOcean said.According to DeepOcean
Aussie Uncrewed Submarine Sold to US
first to be delivered to the United States.The Speartooth LUUV has been designed to deliver scalable, cost-effective undersea capability across intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions. Its smaller size and lower unit cost enable it to operate in contested environments and generate force mass in ways that traditional platforms cannot.A modular design, minimal infrastructure and low cost enables fast integration, flexible mission tailoring and rapid deployment — delivering operational capability at an unprecedented pace and scale
Tagged Sharks Could Improve Climate Forecasts
, collecting ocean climate data in regions that are difficult to observe using conventional methods.The study was led by Laura H. McDonnell, Ph.D., who conducted the research as a doctoral student at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.The study originated from an interdisciplinary collaboration between former Rosenstiel School shark scientist Neil Hammerschlag, Ph.D. and atmospheric scientist Ben Kirtman, Ph.D., now dean of the Rosenstiel School. In 2018, they recognized that the data from shark-tagging
eXXpedition All-Women Sailing Mission Sets Off to Map Global Ocean Plastic
Emily Penn, the mission will fill critical gaps in our understanding of where ocean plastic comes from – and help pinpoint the most impactful solutions.The global expedition consists of 10 legs and 10 teams. With the first three legs fully crewed, today’s launch also opens applications for the remaining voyages – visiting the Arctic, Antarctica, Caribbean and North Pacific throughout 2026 and 2027. The last time eXXpedition set sail, over 10,000 women applied for just 300 crew places.Why this matters nowThe expedition comes at a critical moment for global ocean health and environmental
Project CETI Tracks Sperm Whale Conversations in Real Time
Deep beneath the ocean surface, sperm whales swim through the dark waters, clicking to each other in bursts of sound that can travel for kilometres. Now, scientists say they are beginning to follow those exchanges in real time using an autonomous underwater robot that can track whales by listening to their voices.Sperm whales use clicks to navigate and hunt, and also produce patterned sequences of clicks, known as "codas," that are thought to play a role in communication. Scientists first identified that sperm whales vocalize in 1957. But understanding how they communicate has remained
February 2026
