The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it has awarded a $21,600,909 contract for uncrewed marine systems to be deployed in support of ocean mapping and charting projects.
The contract was awarded to Chance Maritime Technologies LLC, Lafayette, La., and covers the purchase of up to eight total systems over a five-year period.
The systems will be used aboard Surveyor and Navigator, two vessels under construction for the agency (NOAA held keel-laying ceremonies for the ships in 2025). They are intended to complement traditional seafloor mapping methods and will also support fisheries acoustic surveys and other data collection efforts.
According to NOAA, the new systems offer a range of command and control options, from direct operator control to supervised semi-autonomous capabilities — including collision avoidance and dynamic course tracking — to fully autonomous operations in certain circumstances.
NOAA said the contract supports its mission to provide tools and information that help mariners safely move the $2.3 trillion worth of cargo that passes through the nation's ports and harbors annually.
"Uncrewed systems provide more efficiency in data collection, ensuring that our nation remains at the forefront of scientific innovation," said NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D. "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."
Rear Adm. Chad M. Cary, NOAA Corps director and assistant administrator for NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations, described the award as a step toward a broader fleet modernization effort. "Teaming these systems with Surveyor and Navigator achieves a major waypoint on the charted course to building the hybrid fleet of the future," he said.
NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations currently manages a fleet of 15 research and survey ships and 10 specialized environmental data-collecting aircraft, operated by a mix of civilian personnel and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps officers.
