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Mining Journal readers this week learned the future of maritime safety and security may look somewhat different on the Great Lakes and that could be very good news for the people who depend on these waters.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s testing of the Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vehicle represents a positive step toward a more modern, efficient and capable approach to protecting our nation’s waterways. While the technology may seem futuristic, its potential benefits are very practical: better weather information, improved maritime surveillance, greater search-and-rescue capabilities and more effective use of Coast Guard personnel and resources.
The Coast Guard’s 2026 deployment of six Saildrone Voyager vessels -- testing recently wrapped up for the season -- across the Great Lakes has demonstrated why this technology deserves serious consideration. The 33-foot vessels operated starting in April, including in waters off Marquette, gathering real-time offshore weather information and providing operational insight across thousands of square miles of open water. The Coast Guard plans additional testing in spring 2027, an indication that officials see meaningful potential in what these unmanned vessels can offer.
And there is good reason for that optimism.
Anyone familiar with the Great Lakes understands how quickly conditions can change. A relatively pleasant day on the water can turn dangerous in a matter of hours, sometimes minutes. For recreational boaters, commercial vessels, anglers and passengers, rapidly changing weather can mean the difference between a routine trip and a life-threatening emergency.
The Saildrone Voyager can help address that challenge by collecting information about wind speed, wave height, water temperature and barometric pressure while operating offshore. That information can give Coast Guard personnel a better understanding of conditions in areas where traditional weather observations may be limited. When a vessel is in distress, having accurate information about offshore conditions can help rescue crews make better-informed decisions before launching into potentially hazardous waters.
But weather monitoring is only part of the story. These vessels also offer the Coast Guard another set of eyes on an enormous maritime operating area. Equipped with marine radar, an Automatic Identification System transceiver and optical cameras, the Voyagers can help identify vessel activity, recognize unusual patterns and provide information about potential navigation hazards and suspicious activity.
The Great Lakes present a unique challenge for the Coast Guard. They encompass approximately 94,000 square miles of water, support extensive commercial shipping and recreational boating, and include an international boundary shared with Canada. Maintaining awareness of activity across such a vast area requires considerable personnel, equipment and financial resources.
That is where unmanned technology could make a substantial difference.
We look forward to hearing more from the agency on the testing of these unique craft.