Since filing its first ocean-energy patent in 2007, Maiden Wave Energy LLC has developed autonomous boats powered by wave energy for ocean observation and environmental data collection. The Greater Baltimore-area small business has tested 23 prototype or proof-of-concept vessels across 19 bodies of water and built seven boats for the DOE- and NOAA-funded Ocean Observation prize, where it won the BUILD competition after demonstrating its technology at the U.S. Navy’s Carderock wave-testing tank. Its current work includes a self-propelled floating rover and longer-duration autonomous vessels intended to collect data without fuel or a crew aboard.
Wave Killer SystemsOwned by Atlantean Technologies LLC, Wave Killer Systems is known for its patented underwater air-curtain technology. Anchored to the ocean floor, the system is designed to reduce wave energy while creating a barrier that helps keep oil away from shorelines and protects vulnerable marine environments.GLEN COVE, NY
Maker Buoy ShopMaker Buoy Shop grew out of a 2016 experiment with an Arduino-based buoy launched off Norfolk, Virginia, reflecting its practical interest in applying the Internet of Things to the ocean. The shop develops low-cost, solar-powered drifting buoys for users who need inexpensive ocean tracking, and its design is now used to provide information on ocean currents. It also adapts buoy systems for remote terrestrial monitoring.
Ocean Craft MarineSince 2011, Ocean Craft Marine has built custom rigid inflatable boats (RHIBs) for military, government, law-enforcement and other professional crews, tailoring each vessel to the mission rather than selling a standard off-the-shelf craft. The company’s Annapolis-based team works with customers from design through delivery, then backs its boats with worldwide servicing and mission-specific operator training. Ocean Craft Marine is also known for its AAS-100 amphibious system, which gives selected RHIBs four independently driven wheels for rapid movement between land and water.ANNAPOLIS, MD
BlackSea TechnologiesFounded by former U.S. Navy SEALs and special operations professionals, Baltimore-based BlackSea Technologies builds unmanned maritime systems and provides the operational support to deploy and sustain them. Its GARC surface vessel is already in production at the former Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, where the company says a completed unit currently leaves the line each day. BlackSea pairs that manufacturing work with mission systems such as Mainstay, its open autonomy architecture, and maritime logistics for contested and austere environments.CURTIS BAY, MD