Kongsberg, Ocean Exploration Trust Launch Pacific Seabed Mapping Expedition
in the Central Pacific aimed at surveying previously unexplored areas of the ocean floor and testing next-generation mapping technology.The Pacific Mapping expedition, running from June 10 to June 24, will see OET's Exploration Vessel Nautilus deploy Kongsberg's EM 304 MKII multibeam echo sounder for the first time.Three Kongsberg engineers will be aboard the vessel throughout the 14-day mission, using the expedition as a platform to test and refine multibeam mapping technology under real-world operating conditions.The EM 304 MKII is designed for full-ocean-depth operations and combines wide survey
REGENT’s Seaglider Set for Japan Take Off with New Certification Process
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have entered into an agreement with Lloyd's Register and U.S.-based REGENT Craft to jointly develop certification and operational approval processes for REGENT's fully electric Seaglider vessel, as the companies work toward commercial deployment in Japan.The initiative marks the first collaboration in Japan involving a classification society aimed at supporting the commercialization of Seaglider vessels.Seagliders are fully electric wing-in-ground effect craft that operate a few metres above the water surface using ground effect. The vessels
A Double-Sided Trident: Dual-Use Environmental Data Underpins Subsea Defense
demanding the immediate return of what it described as a sovereign immune U.S. vessel. China eventually returned the glider, some five days later.The USNS Bowditch oceanographic survey ship at sea. Credit: U.S. Navy photoThis was not the first time the Bowditch had been harassed by China’s maritime forces. Fifteen years before, while conducting hydrographic survey operations in the Yellow Sea, the vessel was confronted by a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) frigate and ordered to halt its survey and immediately depart the area. (She would later return under the watchful eye of a U.S. Navy
MARTAC Expands Across Western USA With Opening of San Diego Innovation Center
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), announced the opening of the MARTAC Innovation Center West in San Diego, California. The new facility marks a milestone in the company’s expansion, strengthening its ability to serve defense, security and commercial customers across the West Coast and Pacific regions.The MARTAC Innovation Center West will serve as a hub for research, development, testing and customer engagement, complementing MARTAC’s headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. San Diego’s deep ties to the U.S. Navy
Fleetzero, Thoma-Sea, and Glosten Collaborate on Long-Duration USVs
.S.-based developer of marine technology, has announced a collaboration with Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, a leading U.S. shipbuilder, and Glosten, a Seattle-based global naval architecture and marine engineering firm, to accelerate the development and deployment of integrated autonomous vessel solutions for commercial maritime, government, and defense customers.The partnership brings together Fleetzero's Leviathan™ Battery Energy Storage System, propulsion technologies, and autonomy stack, with Thoma-Sea's domestic shipbuilding capacity and Glosten's vessel design expertise.The three
U.S. Navy Selects HII USV to Advance to At-Sea Testing
program.Andy Green, executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, said: “HII is proud that ROMULUS USV has advanced to the U.S. Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel evaluation phase, a milestone that reflects HII’s longstanding track record for delivering mission-ready autonomous capabilities that support the U.S. Navy’s evolving operational requirements.“At the core of the ROMULUS USV is HII’s extensive experience as a global leader in autonomous unmanned maritime systems, combined with HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control
MARTAC, Mystic Powerboats to Expand ASV Production Capacity
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a provider of autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and Mystic Power boats, a leader in high-performance composite vessel construction, announced a co-production partnership to increase MARTAC’s domestic production capacity to meet growing requirements from U.S. and allied customers.MARTAC’s partnership with Mystic is the first of several pending domestic co-production partnerships the company is finalizing that will support a expansion of its co-production framework. The distributed production model strengthens MARTAC’s ability to
Seven Firms Advance in US Navy’s Medium USV Program
The U.S. Department of the Navy has selected seven companies to advance to the at-sea testing phase of its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) marketplace initiative.The companies selected for the MUSV Family of Systems development program are Sea Machines, Leidos, Saronic Technologies, Galliano Marine Services, PacMar Technologies, Birdon, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Navy said companies whose vessels successfully complete at-sea testing will receive $15 million and become eligible for follow-on production opportunities.Testing is scheduled to begin next month and is expected to
Fugro to Monitor Marine Mammals for Ireland’s Offshore Wind Buildout
Fugro has secured a two-year environmental services contract with Irish transmission system operator EirGrid to provide long-term marine mammal monitoring along Ireland’s south coast in support of offshore wind development plans.The work forms part of EirGrid’s Powering Up Offshore – South Coast programme, which aims to deliver the electricity infrastructure needed to connect future offshore wind farms to the national grid. Once completed, the programme is expected to connect about 900 MW of renewable generation capacity, enough to power nearly one million homes.Under the contract
February 2026
