Expeditions

Year 7

July 2025 – June 2026

Shakedown 2026

Pre-season shakedown of E/V Nautilus in the Main Hawaiian Islands — testing the mapping, ROV, satellite, and telepresence systems before the 2026 field season. (NA177 — OET does not publish cruise pages for shakedown cruises.)

OET

Pacific Mapping

A seafloor mapping expedition from Hawaiʻi to Guam aboard E/V Nautilus, using the newly installed EM304 mapping system to fill critical gaps in ocean floor data and enable future deep-sea habitat exploration around the Mariana Islands.

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Deep-Sea Habitats in the Mariana Islands I

Exploration of deep-sea habitats in the Mariana region — one of the most tectonically and volcanically dynamic locations on the planet. ROV and AUV investigations of poorly studied abyssal plains, seamounts, and other deep-sea areas around the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Deep-Sea Habitats in the Mariana Islands II

E/V Nautilus deploys ROV, AUV Sentry, and mapping technology to study deep-sea habitats in the Mariana Islands. Includes a high-frequency acoustic recording package from NOAA PIFSC for cetacean monitoring.

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Exploration of Wake Island’s Deep Sea

Wake Island’s surrounding seafloor remains largely unmapped. E/V Nautilus collects critical baseline information — abyssal plains, seamounts, and potential maritime heritage sites from the Battle of Wake Island.

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Deep-Sea Habitats of the Hawaiian Archipelago

A 20-day expedition surveying previously unexplored deep seafloor around the Hawaiian Islands — unexplored ridges and seamounts in the eastern Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, plus deep-sea coral monitoring.

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Year 6

July 2024 – June 2025

Shakedown 2025

Pre-season shakedown of E/V Nautilus in the Main Hawaiian Islands — testing the mapping, ROV, satellite, and telepresence systems before the 2025 field season. (NA170 — OET does not publish cruise pages for shakedown cruises.)

OET

Mattingan: Mariana Arc Volcanic Exploration

Exploration of submarine volcanic features along the Mariana Arc. (Funded under Y5C; sailed in the Y6 field season.)

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Exploring the Offshore Marianas

Deep-sea exploration of offshore areas around the Mariana Islands. (Funded under Y5C; sailed in the Y6 field season.)

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Maritime Archaeology of Guadalcanal: Iron Bottom Sound

Maritime archaeology investigating World War II–era wrecks in Iron Bottom Sound, Solomon Islands.

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Deep-Sea Habitats of the Marshall Islands

Deep-sea habitat survey of seamounts and conservation-priority areas in the Marshall Islands.

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Seafloor Mapping Offshore Howland & Baker Islands

Seafloor mapping offshore of Howland and Baker Islands. (Originally scoped under Y6 as Fiji; sailed as Howland & Baker in 2025.)

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Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands

Surveying previously unmapped priority areas within the Cook Islands EEZ — abyssal plains, seamounts, and volcanic ridges of Marae Moana. Findings inform resource management decisions and are shared with the Cook Islands Government. (NA176 — Y6 funded, sailed in the Y7 calendar.)

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Year 5

Shakedown

This expedition prepares the ship for the coming field season.

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American Samoa Leg 1

E Mamana Ou Gataifale I
Muti-Vehicle Exploration – 18-day expedition to explore the dynamic seafloor and water column habitats surrounding Vailulu’u Seamount, in addition to midwater and other unexplored deep-sea habitats in the region.

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American Samoa Leg 2

E Mamana Ou Gataifale II 
This expedition will use E/V Nautilus’ remotely operated vehicles and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Sentry to expand the amount of exploration possible within this 20-day expedition. 

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Howland and Baker

Howland and Baker Islands lie just north of the equator, about 1,800 miles southwest of Hawaiʻi. The islands are low-lying, sandy coral islands ringed by narrow fringing reefs and surrounded by the deep ocean. The US exclusive economic zone around Howland and Baker represents one of the least explored regions under US jurisdiction.

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Jarvis

Mapping Hawaii to American Samoa
Ongoing repair to a ship system has changed plans for the expedition, postponing the ROV exploration portion of this expedition within the Jarvis Unit of PRIMNM. The expedition will now evolve into a mapping transit leg to American Samoa. 

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Lebuu’s Voyage I – Palau

 OET will lead this 11-day expedition to gather seafloor mapping data and explore the seafloor with remotely operated vehicles to illuminate deep sea habitats around Palau.

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Lebuu’s Voyage II – Palau

 11-day expedition will continue exploring Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) to understand seafloor features and the biodiversity that call deep sea habitats around Palau home.

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Mapping and Water Column Exploration Offshore Palau

This expedition takes us from Palau to Guam for 17 days of mapping. Beginning in late November in Koror, Palau, and ending in December in Apra, Guam where it will stay for the winter.

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Year 4

Shakedown

Allison Fundis (OET) and Daniel Wagner (OET)

Expeditions NA147 & NA148
Testing various systems for 2023 Hawaiian Islands expeditions

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Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll

Daniel Wagner (OET)

Exploring Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, utilizing advanced technology

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Mapping of Jarvis

Daniel Wagner (OET)

Mapping Jarvis Island’s seafloor, adding to scientific knowledge

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Tech Challenge – Multi-Vehicle Exploration

Larry Mayer (UNH), Rick Murray (WHOI), Robert Ballard (OET), and Adam Soule (URI)

Tech integration expedition: USV, AUV, and DAP for ocean exploration

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Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM)

Daniel Wagner (OET)

E/V Nautilus explores unseen deep-sea habitats in PMNM with ROV

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Johnston Atoll

Daniel Wagner (OET) and Larry Mayer (UNH)

Exploration in Johnston Atoll Unit, expanding knowledge of deep-sea habitats

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Year 3

Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll

Bob Ballard (OET)

ROV survey and geological sampling in Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

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Luʻuaeaahikiikekumu – Ancient Seamounts of Liliʻuokalani Ridge

Bob Ballard (OET)

Seamount exploration in PMNM to understand geology and biodiversity

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MultiVehicle

Larry Mayer (UNH), Rick Murray (WHOI), Robert Ballard (OET), Adam Soule (URI) and Jason Fahy (URI)

Testing autonomous ocean exploration systems and collaboration concepts

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Deep Seamount Biodiversity of Johnston Atoll Leg 1

Bob Ballard (OET)

Mapping expedition to uncover seafloor features in Johnston Atoll PRIMNM

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Deep Seamount Biodiversity of Johnston Atoll Leg 2

Bob Ballard (OET)

ROV dives to explore biodiversity and geology in Johnston Atoll PRIMNM

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NWHI/PMNM Leg 1

Robert Ballard (OET)

Mapping expedition in PMNM, contributing to seafloor knowledge and navigation safety

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NWHI/PMNM Leg 2

Robert Ballard (OET)

High-resolution mapping in PMNM to enhance seafloor knowledge and protection

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Years 1 and 2

Benthic Communities Across Biomes

Interdisciplinary expedition studies Southern California Borderland’s biotic diversity, minerals, and biopharmaceutical potential

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US EEZ Mapping

Mapping gaps in U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone with advanced technology

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Santa Barbara Basin & West Coast EEZ Mapping

Expedition explores California’s oxygen minimum zones, maps seafloor, and conducts research

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Cascadia Margin Seep Exploration

Exploring methane seeps along the Cascadia Margin with ROV dives

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West Coast EEZ Mapping

NOAA mapping expedition in U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone supports research

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Tech Demo NUI/Mesobot

Expedition tests autonomous underwater vehicles off the Southern California coast

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Mapping to Hawaii

E/V Nautilus maps central Pacific, addressing seabed mapping gaps

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Liliuokalani Ridge Seamounts

Expedition maps Liliʻuokalani Seamounts in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

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S. Wentworth & Don Quixote

ROV survey explores seamounts in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument for biology and geology

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Chautauqua Seamounts

ROV survey and geological sampling in Chautauqua Seamount

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