Saildrone has announced it will deploy 10 Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) during the 2026 hurricane season to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in its mission to forecast hurricanes, pro…

Saildrone Explorer
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Overview
7-meter USV designed for up to year-long remote ocean monitoring operations.
Saildrone Explorer is a dual-use USV platform developed by Saildrone in United States. 7-meter USV designed for up to year-long remote ocean monitoring operations. It is positioned for METOC, climate monitoring, ocean observation, and operational planningand is listed publicly as active. Published specifications captured in this database include a published length of about 7 m, reported endurance of up to 365 continuous days at sea, and reported speed of Average speed 1-3 knots. The platform is described as autonomous / supervised in terms of control and autonomy. Its concept emphasizes persistent on-water presence, modular payload integration, and lower operating burden than a comparable crewed craft. Additional context: Renewable wind and solar powered platform for persistent ocean observations.
Primary Roles
Notes
Renewable wind and solar powered platform for persistent ocean observations.
Technical Specs
Known AIS / MMSI
Public AIS directories associate this MMSI with a U.S.-flagged Saildrone Explorer-family hull using the name SD-2027 UNCREWED.
Public AIS directories identify this MMSI as SD 1062 UNCREWED, a U.S.-flagged Saildrone Explorer hull.