John Siddorn, CEO, National Oceanography Center
(NOC).Today, NOC is based in Southampton and Liverpool and has quickly become one of the most advanced centers for integrated oceanographic research and engineering worldwide. With a staff of more than 600 and assets ranging from deep-sea research vessels to fleets of autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, NOC serves as the UK’s principal marine science body.For Siddorn, who began his career as a physical oceanographer in the 1990s and spent significant time at the UK Met Office developing coupled ocean-atmosphere models, the role at NOC is the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to understandin
Saildrone Closes $60M Financing to Bring Maritime Autonomy to Europe
need for maritime security for critical infrastructure and wider defense applications.The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats, and the need for persistent maritime domain awareness is significant. Saildrone’s extreme endurance unmanned surface vehicles utilize sophisticated sensors, combined with proprietary AI algorithms, to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface.In addition to EIFO, other participants in the round included existing investors Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, and Academy
OPT Signs Up Defense Customer for Multiple WAM-V USVs
Ocean Power Technologies, a U.S.-based marine power, data and service solutions company, has been awarded a contract for multiple WAM-V unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for delivery to certain Allied Forces.The contract includes delivery of vehicles, integrated sensors, and operators as a contractor-owned contractor-operated (COCO) delivery in late Spring 2025.Due to the sensitive nature of the relationship, terms of the contract have not been disclosed.The award builds on the recent commercial success of OPT’s vehicles and PowerBuoy’s for autonomous Maritime Domain Awareness, Counter
Ashtead Technology Orders Teledyne’s New Autonomous Navigation System
Teledyne Marine has secured its first orders for the Compact Navigator, the company’s new ultra-compact autonomous navigation system for subsea and surface vehicles.Ashtead Technology has placed a significant initial order, marking the first commercial adoption of what is said to be the world’s smallest and highest-performing, fully integrated autonomous navigation solution.The Compact Navigator is Teledyne Marine’s latest advancement in navigation technology, designed to deliver high-precision positioning and enhanced performance in a lightweight, ultra small form factor. The
Ocean Business: Teledyne Marine Introduces New Technologies and Solutions
Acoustic Modems' (WideBand C) data rate to 4800bits per second and enhances UTS topside systemsValeport pH – an innovative self-calibrating, highly accurate, and robust pH sensor from Teledyne ValeportIntrepid System – a GNSS/Inertial Navigation System for unmanned surface vehicles, seamlessly integrates with the SeaBat T20-ASV processor for precise positioningTeledyne Marine is also hosting live on-water and dockside demonstrations, providing attendees with a firsthand look at its cutting-edge technologies in action.On-Water Demonstrations – Experience the advanced
First Dutch Navy Mine Countermeasure Vessel Starts Sea Trials
maintained in Exail Belgium subsidiary based in Ostend.The vessels have the following characteristics:Length: 82.6mWidth: 17mDisplacement: 2,800tMaximum speed: 15.3 knotsRange: >3,500 nautical milesCrew: 63 people (base crew 33 people)Drone capabilities: Exail UMISOFT Software suite, two unmanned surface vehicles (Exail Inspector 125), three autonomous underwater vehicles (A-18 equipped with Exail UMISAS 120 sonar), two towed sonars (T-18 equipped with Exail UMISAS 240 sonar), two Mine Identification & Disposal Systems (MIDS) systems (Exail Seascan and K-Ster C), two unmanned aerial vessels (UMS
Saildrone USVs Support Mission to Secure US Southern Border
border.On the water, the US Navy and Coast Guard have moved fleets of ships into place. These agencies are responsible for securing thousands of miles of coastline and open ocean, but assets are extremely limited, and there is too much water to cover.Now, Saildrone is doubling its fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Southern Spear to detect and stem the flow of illegal drugs traveling through known maritime corridors into the US.A record number of 20 high-endurance Saildrone Voyager USVs equipped with a newly upgraded sensor suite will
PODCAST - Underwater Robotics: Giving Marine Scientists Superpowers
in 1998, a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Sydney in 1999, and a Ph.D. in marine sciences from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences in 2004. His research interests include coastal and estuarine morphodynamics, sediment transport, hydrodynamics, autonomous underwater, aerial and surface vehicles, seafloor mapping, and geoacoustics.Tune in and subscribe here
OPT Wraps Up Second Set of WAM-V Trials US Navy
Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has completed the second set of exercises for several of its WAM-V autonomous surface vehicles during the Mission Autonomy Proving Grounds (MAPG) as part of Project Overmatch.The tests are part of the previously announced follow-on contract as a subcontractor to EpiSci and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific’s Project Overmatch.Under this contract, OPT continues to enhance the operational capability of its autonomous maritime technologies to support the U.S. military and its allies. The first set of exercises was concluded over the summer and the completion of
February 2025
