NOAA Partners With Scripps on Unmanned Maritime Systems Project

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has partnered with the University of California's Scripps Institution of Oceanography to improve its research, assessment and acquisition of unmanned maritime systems. 

“Innovative use of unmanned systems will benefit many NOAA programs, augmenting data collection often at lower cost, increased safety and reduced risk — especially in remote or extreme environments,” said Deputy NOAA Administrator Tim Gallaudet.

NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations will build out its newly created Unmanned Systems Operations Program in line with recommendations from the institution, FedScoop reported.

Scipps' Coastal Observing Research and Development Center will also help NOAA create and test an unmanned surface vessel designed to collect meteorological and oceanographic data.

NOAA said the 10-year agreement will help it meet the objectives of the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology 2018, which requires the agency to research and acquire unmanned marine systems with the Navy, government, industry and academia. 

Margaret Leinen, vice chancellor for marine sciences at UC San Diego and director of Scripps, said innovative technologies for data gathering are essential for understanding and predicting the ocean. 

“Unmanned systems allow us to observe the ocean more regularly and at a greater scale. We are excited to expand our collaboration with NOAA on rapidly advancing unmanned systems,” Leinen said. 

Michael Silah, director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and OMAO, said the new partnership will greatly improve NOAA's ability to transition to such technologies for gathering environmental data.

NOAA's unmanned maritime systems operations will be based at a new site being built in Gulfport, Mississippi, by the Mississippi State Port Authority in partnership with the University of Southern Mississippi.