Woolpert and Saildrone target bathymetric gaps in the Mariana Islands region with uncrewed systems
A 13,000-square-nautical-mile stretch of the northwestern Pacific is coming into sharper focus as autonomous systems and hydospatial expertise converge in one of the most remote parts of the USA's exclusive economic zone. Off the eastern coast of the Mariana Islands, Woolpert and Saildrone have joined forces to deliver high-resolution bathymetric intelligence for the NOAA, advancing both safe navigation and long-term national ocean mapping ambitions.
The programme supports NOAA’s Ocean Exploration and Office of Coast Survey mandates, contributing to the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Seabed 2030 initiative. At stake is a clearer understanding of a strategically located and ecologically significant region.
Strategic waters, critical data
Situated in the western Pacific, the Mariana Islands represent a key monitoring zone. The bathymetric data will strengthen NOAA’s insight into sensitive habitats, marine geohazards, oceanographic dynamics and seafloor composition. The dataset is also expected to support ecosystem management across the USA's exclusive economic zone in the region and expand taxonomic reference libraries for understudied marine organisms.
To execute the survey, Woolpert was selected to map the seafloor using advanced Lidar and sonar bathymetry workflows, partnering with Saildrone for offshore acquisition. The project deploys a 20-metre Saildrone Surveyor uncrewed surface vehicle engineered for persistent maritime intelligence and deep ocean mapping.
The Surveyor operates autonomously for extended periods, combining a high-efficiency diesel engine with the company’s proprietary wing technology to harness auxiliary wind energy. This dual-power architecture enables the range and endurance required for long-duration deep-water operations in challenging sea states.
Data acquisition began in February, with high-resolution bathymetric coverage underway across the survey area. Through integration of Saildrone’s mission portal with Woolpert’s automated survey production environment, data is transmitted in near real time for processing and quality control, accelerating delivery timelines while maintaining oversight of acquisition progress.
Autonomous platforms, integrated workflows
Brian Connon, vice president of ocean mapping at Saildrone, emphasized the strategic value of the campaign. The Surveyor’s work around the Mariana Islands, he noted, will help close critical bathymetric gaps within the USA's exclusive economic zone. Its ability to remain at sea for months, regardless of weather or sea conditions, positions it as an effective platform for sustained offshore mapping. He added that the collaboration with Woolpert and NOAA reflects a shared commitment to strengthening understanding of marine resources and ocean ecosystems.
From Woolpert’s perspective, the partnership illustrates how autonomous systems are reshaping hydrographic acquisition models. Dave Neff, maritime market director at Woolpert, pointed to the operational gains achieved by linking Saildrone’s offshore capabilities with Woolpert’s production environment. The result is real-time visibility into data quality and survey progress, particularly in deep-water regions that have traditionally been difficult and costly to access. In his view, the collaboration demonstrates how uncrewed systems, combined with integrated processing workflows, can expand the practical boundaries of ocean mapping.
The contract is now underway and is scheduled to conclude in May 2026, marking another step towards comprehensive mapping of the USA's exclusive economic zone and reinforcing the role of autonomous platforms in large-scale marine data acquisition.
