Vessel Announcements
Seaspan Delivers Canadian Coast Guard Research Vessel
Seaspan Shipyards has officially delivered the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV), CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, to the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
The OOSV is the fourth large vessel, and second class of ship, to be built and delivered by Seaspan under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk is named after a well-respected elder from Nunavik who was a renowned promoter of Inuit language and culture.
The ship will replace CCGS Hudson, which was decommissioned in 2022 following 59 years of dedicated service.
The new OOSV will be Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s primary oceanographic science platform, outfitted for habitat management, marine surveys and scientific research on ocean currents and the seabed, while also being able to serve the needs of the Canadian Coast Guard, aiding in operations such as Search and Rescue.
This highly complex ship is a floating laboratory, with specialized equipment that includes several advanced wet and dry labs, an ocean sampling room, a scientific seawater system for studying oxygen levels, temperature and salinity, and a state-of-the-art drop keel and sensor suite for collecting and analyzing data on everything from water current velocities to underwater acoustics.
The OOSV will sail to Patricia Bay for Canadian Coast Guard training and familiarity before starting its voyage to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the ship’s home port.
The OOSV’s delivery follows a number of other shipbuilding milestones at Seaspan over the last year, including the launch of HMCS Protecteur, cutting steel on the CCG’s new heavy Polar Icebreaker, a successful Functional Design Review for the Multi-Purpose Icebreakers and the design award for six U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Security Cutters.
Witherbys to Introduce New Oceanographic Research Vessel from 2026
Maritime publishing and digital training group Witherbys has unveiled plans to introduce a new oceanographic research vessel, the MV Sea Ranger, from 2026 to support its technical development, real-world navigational studies and maritime training programs.
The MV Sea Ranger will support Witherbys’ mission to enhance maritime knowledge and safety through research directly linked to shipboard operations.
It will strengthen the delivery of computer-based training programs, both via Witherbys’ eBook Reader Witherby Connect, already in daily use on over 40,000 ships, and through collaboration with industry partners.
The vessel will also enable detailed study of ECDIS transitions, the latest developments in S-100 and the practical application of maritime guidance in real-world conditions. Also, it will support the creation of Witherbys’ technical publications, including the ongoing development of the Passage Planning Guide series.
The MV Sea Ranger will be fully utilized to conduct comprehensive testing and review of these guides across global waterways, including the Lombok and Sunda Straits, and in the creation of new editions, such as an expanded Suez Canal guide.
Observing how these publications work in real-world operational conditions will ensure they remain accurate, practical and relevant for mariners worldwide.
Having previously served as a research vessel for the Schmidt Oceanographic Research Institute, including expeditions as far south as Antarctica, MV SEA RANGER offers proven capability for global operations.
It carries over 1.2 million liters of fuel, giving it a potential range of more than 30,000 nautical miles.
In addition, the vessel will enable Witherbys to continue to expand and improve its publications on maritime security, environmental protection and shipboard operations by providing facilities for research on emerging security issues, environmental compliance in accordance with MARPOL regulations, and energy efficiency solutions.
Collaborative work with partners such as ICS and BIMCO will ensure guidance remains current and in line with international standards.
Skana Robotics Expands its Autonomous Fleet with "Alligator" Amphibious Vessel
Skana Robotics, a defense tech startup, is unveiling its latest autonomous vessel, the Alligator, the first amphibious vessel that combines infrastructure-free deployment, manned or unmanned operation, and the ability to carry and launch other autonomous systems.
The Alligator joins Skana’s fleet of maritime autonomous vessels, which have already progressed from the prototype stage to deployable and adaptable naval assets designed for mass production: the Bullshark (autonomous surface vessel, ASV) and Stingray (Autonomous underwater vessel, AUV). Skana’s third and largest vessel, the Alligator, will join the company’s product line by Q1 2026.
Skana’s Alligator is the first amphibious vessel of its kind, combining the range and speed of a naval craft with the agility to operate anywhere, without the need for docks or coastal infrastructure. The platform can transition between land and sea, deploy autonomously or under human control, and transport payloads of up to 1,500 kg, including other autonomous systems such as Skana’s Stingray underwater vessel. Designed as part of Skana’s connected fleet, the Alligator communicates in real time with surface and subsurface vessels through the company’s SeaSphere resource allocation and mission planning system, enabling coordinated, cross-domain missions.
Skana’s earlier vessels, The Bullshark and Stingray, represent what drones did for air power: software-defined systems that can be deployed by the hundreds or thousands to extend naval presence and resilience. At the core of the software development are SeaSphere, a resource allocation and mission-planning engine, and Vera, a proprietary execution layer that enables distributed command, autonomous teaming, and real-time adaptation.
The Bullshark is a tactical ASV designed for multiple missions, including ISR and interdiction. It features a scalable design, a payload capacity of up to 150 kg, and functions as a communications hub to coordinate multiple surface and sub-surface assets.
The Stingray is a loitering AUV designed for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), and infrastructure protection in complex underwater terrains. It supports autonomous underwater navigation, seabed anchoring, silent standby, and reactivation mode. It offers a standard 24-hour battery life, extendable through a battery module, and can be launched from a designated underwater docking station, submarines, patrol boats, or other Skana or Naval vessels.
Freire Shipyard Celebrates Keel-Laying of Dana V Research Vessel
Freire Shipyard has celebrated the keel laying of the new flagship research vessel for the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU -Technical University of Denmark). Measuring 70 meters length and 16 meters beam, with accommodation for 38 people, the Dana V is set to become a world-class platform for research and education.
Successor to the Dana IV, the Dana V was designed by the Knud E. Hansen A/Sconsortium, Odense Maritime Technology A/S and Naval Architects, with environmental sustainability at its core. The vessel can operate on either biodiesel or electric batteries, switching between propulsion systems as mission requirements dictate, particularly for operations demanding silent navigation.
Dana V will be a multidisciplinary research platform including research on fish stocks, marine ecosystems, ocean currents, and biodiversity variations. The design allows for studies on the interactions between biology, physics, and climate, as well as geological conditions of the seabed and water column.
To support these missions, the Dana V will be equipped with advanced systems ensuring high-quality data collection and documentation. Its instruments include sonars, sound velocity meters, trawl control systems, and other specialized marine research equipment.
ADNOC L&S Presents UAE’s First Autonomous Offshore Vessel
ADNOC Logistics & Services has unveiled the UAE’s first remotely operated offshore landing craft vessel, a 60-metre unmanned platform designed to improve safety, efficiency and emissions performance across offshore operations.
Developed with SeaOwl and launched during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, the vessel uses AI-enabled systems, satellite-linked controls and remote operation from ADNOC L&S’s center in Mussafah. The design eliminates onboard crew accommodation, reducing weight, improving fuel use and enabling continuous operations.
According to ADNOC L&S, the vessel’s AI-driven route optimization is expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 30% compared with conventional crewed vessels. A hybrid power management system will further reduce fuel consumption.
Construction of two prototypes is scheduled to begin by the end of 2025, with delivery planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by sea trials and safety validation in UAE waters. Onboard AI systems allow the vessel to maintain safe autonomous operation if communication is temporarily lost.
HII Delivers Virginia-Class Submarine Massachusetts to US Navy
HII announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has delivered Virginia-class fast-attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798) to the U.S. Navy.
Massachusetts is the 12th Virginia-class submarine delivered by NNS, and the 25th built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat. It is the fifth Navy vessel named for the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
More than 10,000 shipbuilders from NNS and Electric Boat participated in the construction of Massachusetts, alongside thousands of suppliers across the country, including more than 20 in Massachusetts that support Virginia-class submarine construction at NNS.
Nuclear-powered fast attack submarine Massachusetts was christened in May 2023 at NNS by ship’s sponsor Sheryl Sandberg, founder of Lean In, and former chief operating officer of Meta (formerly Facebook).
All-Electric Foiling USV Undergoing Sea Trials
MGI Engineering has introduced SeaGlide, an autonomous, all-electric foiling uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) designed for low-signature defence missions and short-range maritime logistics.
The vessel carries up to 200kg over around 150km on electric power alone, cruising at 25 knots. Its foiling hull and advanced composites enable fast, agile, hard-to-detect performance with stable operation in variable sea states.
SeaGlide is intended for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance as well as payload deployment, tactical logistics and communications relay in littoral and offshore environments, as well as zero-emission last-mile maritime delivery on inter-island and coastal routes.
Now in sea trials in UK waters, SeaGlide will be offered in 4-, 5-, and 6-meter variants.
