NOAA has awarded a $21.6 million contract for advanced uncrewed marine systems that will support the agency’s next generation of charting and mapping vessels, a move officials say will improve the efficiency of seafloor mapping, fisheries research, and other critical ocean data collection efforts.
The contract was awarded to Chance Maritime Technologies LLC of Lafayette, Louisiana, and includes the purchase of up to eight uncrewed marine systems over the next five years.
The technology will be deployed aboard NOAA’s new charting and mapping vessels, Surveyor and Navigator, which are currently under construction as part of the agency’s ongoing fleet modernization efforts.
For boaters, commercial mariners, and anglers, the investment highlights the growing role that advanced technology plays in maintaining accurate nautical charts and improving understanding of the nation’s waterways. NOAA’s charting and mapping programs provide essential information used by recreational boaters, commercial shipping operators, fishing fleets, and port authorities throughout the United States.
The uncrewed systems will work alongside traditional survey methods to collect hydrographic and oceanographic data. Depending on mission requirements, the vessels can operate under direct human control, semi-autonomous control with features such as collision avoidance and dynamic course tracking, or fully autonomous operation in certain situations.
NOAA officials say the systems will help expand the agency’s ability to collect information in remote and challenging marine environments while improving efficiency and reducing operational demands on crewed vessels.
“Uncrewed systems provide more efficiency in data collection, ensuring that our nation remains at the forefront of scientific innovation,” said NOAA Administrator Dr. Neil Jacobs. “The Administration’s focus on integrating emerging technologies into agency operations allows NOAA to serve the public more effectively and demonstrate our leadership in scientific collaboration on the world stage.”
While hydrographic charting remains a primary mission, the new systems will also support other scientific programs, including fisheries acoustic surveys used to assess fish populations and better understand marine ecosystems.
Rear Adm. Chad M. Cary, director of the NOAA Corps and assistant administrator for NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations, said that combining the new technology with NOAA’s expanding fleet represents a significant step forward for the agency.
“NOAA is uniquely positioned to leverage cutting-edge maritime technology to efficiently collect data in some of the ocean’s most challenging regions,” Cary said. “Teaming these systems with Surveyor and Navigator achieves a major waypoint on the charted course to building the hybrid fleet of the future.”
NOAA currently operates a fleet of 15 research and survey vessels along with 10 specialized environmental data-collection aircraft. The fleet supports a wide range of missions, including nautical charting, fisheries assessments, oceanographic research, habitat studies, weather observations, and marine resource management.
As maritime technology continues advancing, NOAA’s investment signals a broader trend toward combining traditional research vessels with autonomous and semi-autonomous platforms capable of gathering data more efficiently. For the boating community, those efforts ultimately contribute to safer navigation, more accurate charts, improved fisheries management, and a better understanding of the nation’s coastal and offshore waters.
