Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Hosts MATE ROV World Championship

June 20, 2025

This week, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan, is making waves as it hosts the 2025 MATE ROV World Championship—a global underwater robotics competition that brings together the brightest young minds in ocean technology. This is the second time since 2014 that the sanctuary is hosting this prestigious world competition at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. This three-day event has brought hundreds of first-time visitors to northeast Michigan, while igniting a buzz of excitement throughout the community.

On June 19, roughly 1,000 students from around the world have arrived on the shores of Lake Huron to showcase their engineering skills, creativity, and teamwork as they pilot their custom-built remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) through complex underwater challenges. Students have traveled from across the USA, and from Egypt, Mexico, Germany, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Italy, India, China, England, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Australia, Scotland, Macau, Singapore, and Uganda to put their ROV creations to the test.

This event is more than a competition—it's a hands-on learning experience that prepares the next generation of ocean problem-solvers. Participants will tackle real-world scenarios modeled after tasks faced by marine scientists, archaeologists, and engineers. This year, the teams will document a historic shipwreck, deploy a moored buoy equipped with environmental sensors, and collect and analyze water samples, all within a specially designed competition tank.

As part of NOAA's commitment to education, innovation, and stewardship, national marine sanctuaries like Thunder Bay—America's first Great Lakes sanctuary—provide an inspiring backdrop for the competition. By supporting programs like the MATE ROV Competition, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA are helping to cultivate future leaders in marine technology and STEM careers. Check out our Earth is Blue video to learn how building submersibles helps students prepare for complex jobs in marine industries, from science and exploration to search and recovery.