Saildrone has announced the deployment of 16 uncrewed surface vessels, known as Voyager, as part of a $15.5 million contract to assist US Coast Guard operations in the Great Lakes and along the Northeast coast. This initiative aims to enhance maritime surveillance and extends coverage across the northern maritime approaches of the United States.
The region encompasses extensive coastlines, bustling waterways shared with Canada, and remote areas of the North Atlantic, presenting a unique challenge for continuous monitoring by crewed patrol vessels alone. The addition of Saildrone’s technology is expected to significantly bolster these efforts.
This deployment is a continuation of Saildrone’s operations initiated in 2023, which included a variety of missions such as counter-narcotics, migrant interdiction, search-and-rescue operations, and the monitoring of illegal and unregulated fishing activities.
In the Great Lakes, these uncrewed surface vessels will assist in tracking vessel movements across the intricate US-Canada maritime border, where the complexity of geography, high traffic density, and varying seasonal conditions pose challenges to consistent surveillance. Along the Northeast coast, the focus will shift to fisheries monitoring in the North Atlantic, where long distances and operational costs can restrict enforcement capabilities.
The Voyager Uncrewed Surface Vessel measures 33 feet (10 meters) and is engineered for long-duration surveillance tasks at sea. It is equipped with advanced maritime domain awareness technologies, including radar systems, electro-optical imaging, and automatic identification system receivers, which enable the detection and tracking of vessel traffic.
Data gathered by the Voyager vessels is transmitted in near real-time to operators onshore, providing the ability to monitor vast maritime areas remotely without the need for onboard crew. Additionally, these vessels are capable of conducting near-shore hydrographic mapping and seabed characterization, making them versatile tools for various maritime operations.
The Voyager platform can remain stationed for extended durations, identifying suspicious activities or anomalies and allowing conventional asset deployment only when necessary. This strategic use of technology represents a significant advancement in maritime surveillance and operational effectiveness for the US Coast Guard.
