E/V Nautilus: 2026 Field Season

This year’s telepresence-enabled program will use the ship’s mapping sonars, remotely operated vehicles, and other exploration technologies from OECI partners to explore deep-ocean habitats, geological features, and maritime heritage sites offshore of the Mariana Islands, Wake Island, and Hawaiʻi to help advance the pace and efficiency of ocean exploration. Each of OET’s expeditions is planned and implemented in close collaboration and consultation with local stakeholders and community members in the regions where the expeditions will take place.

NOAA Ocean Exploration and OET have long partnered to explore the world’s ocean. Operations on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer were designed and developed alongside E/V Nautilus, and both ships use telepresence to enable scientists, students, educators, and the public to follow operations and participate remotely from shore. Today, through its support for E/V Nautilus via the OECI, NOAA Ocean Exploration continues to work with OET to advance marine technologies, reduce uncertainties in critical parts of our largely unexplored deep ocean, and contribute to the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and Seabed 2030.

Learn more about the individual expeditions through blogs, photo galleries, highlight videos, and more, and join in on the exploration in real time through livestreamed video from the deep ocean on Nautilus Live. Also, follow Ocean Exploration Trust on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, and X/Twitter for behind-the-scenes updates.