AAM Delivers R/V Osprey to UNCW
All American Marine (AAM) announced the delivery of a 78-foot aluminum research vessel commissioned by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). Following successful sea trials at AAM’s Bellingham, WA facility, R/V Osprey has arrived in Florida and is currently making her way up the coast to her home port of Wilmington, NC. There, she will support UNCW’s faculty, students, and research partners conducting scientific and educational missions along the Mid-Atlantic, U.S. East Coast, and offshore waters.Designed by Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand, the 73’ x 26.
Prysmian Cable Manufacturing Expands North Carolina Facility
fiber manufacturing processes, and increase the cable production side as well. Construction is expected to take 20-24 months. At more than $1 billion, the project represents the largest capital investment announced in Catawba County in the 11 years that the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina has tracked project data. Demand for fiber optic cable is growing across North Carolina as data centers, telecommunications companies, and other industries invest in the infrastructure needed to support the growing need for high-speed connectivity. Employment in the state’s fiber optic
Sharks Fitted with Sensors to Help Hurricane Predictions
in and out of waterspouts, yet," Wiernicki joked, but added sharks can be "a lot of fun."If the project succeeds, the data collected by sharks could help improve forecasts of how strong hurricanes will be as they approach the U.S. East Coast. The information could give communities from North Carolina to Massachusetts more reliable information to increase coastal resilience to ever-strengthening storms, Wiernicki said.Most people will never encounter a shark in the wild, Carlisle said, but many know them through frightening stereotypes.In reality, Carlisle said, "they are amazing animals
UKSR to Embark on 4th Mission to Survey Deep Sea Minerals
and public databases.In May 2026, Glomar Minerals announced Project Infinity, a consortium agreement with Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited to build a domestic critical minerals processing facility in the United States. Project Infinity, which has narrowed to four finalist sites across Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas, is designed to refine polymetallic nodules and terrestrial cobalt into market-ready materials. Nodule samples collected during this campaign will feed directly into processing design work for Project Infinity, an early step toward reducing U.S. reliance on foreign-controlled critical
NOAA, Northrop Grumman to Release Sonar Images of the USS Monitor Shipwreck Site
2025, members of Northrop Grumman’s Technology for Conservation team, along with scientists from NOAA and Stantec, deployed an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) with an advanced sonar system, µSAS, to capture high-resolution imagery of the Monitor shipwreck site off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The fine-scale sonar scans will be used to help the public explore, understand, and protect NOAA’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Scientists from SEARCH participated in some of the planning meetings.NOAA designated the wreck of the USS Monitor as the nation's first national marine
Modelling Identifies Optimal Offshore Renewables Sites
the ocean’s tides, current and waves into electricity – hold tremendous potential for producing sustainable energy at a reasonable cost,” says Anderson de Queiroz, co-author of a paper on the work and an associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University. “We also know that putting wind turbines and marine hydrokinetic devices in the same location makes it possible to ensure a reliable flow of energy from offshore sites.“However, the initial cost of building these offshore sites is considerable, so it is important
There’s Plenty More “Fish” in the Sea
at Marine Technology News...One of the earliest documented examples of biomimicry is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci when he studied fish to help conceptualize a submarine.The latest case of studying fish for subsea machines is described this week in Marine Technology News. A team of researchers from North Carolina State University beat their own record for the fastest swimming soft robot, drawing inspiration from manta rays to improve their ability to control the robot’s movement in the water.But, there’s plenty more “fish” in the sea that have inspired subsea robotics, including:Scienti
Watch: Soft Robot Swims Like Manta Ray
A team of researchers from North Carolina State University has beaten its own record for the fastest swimming soft robot, drawing inspiration from manta rays to improve their ability to control the robot’s movement in the water.“Two years ago, we demonstrated an aquatic soft robot that was able to reach average speeds of 3.74 body lengths per second,” says Jie Yin, corresponding author of a paper on the work. “We have improved on that design. Our new soft robot is more energy efficient and reaches a speed of 6.8 body lengths per second. In addition, the previous model could
General Dynamics Mission Systems to Develop Clandestine Mine Delivery System
prototype production and support that, if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to $58.1 million. Design work on this contract will be performed in Quincy and Taunton, Massachusetts; Fairfax and Manassas, Virginia; Scottsdale, Arizona; Middletown, Rhode Island and Greensboro, North Carolina and is expected to be completed by September 2026.“The critical operational need for advanced mine warfare assets like MEDUSA has increased dramatically,” said Dr. Laura Hooks, vice president and general manager of the Maritime and Strategic Systems business at General Dynamics Mission
August 2026
