Autonomous maritime drone manufacturer Ocean Aero recently opened its 63,000-square-foot facility on the Gulf Coast. The facility will enable the production of up to 150 Tritons per year, the company said. (Photo: Business Wire)
GULFPORT, Miss.—Ocean Aero recently opened its new headquarters and manufacturing facility, featuring 63,000 square feet of state-of-the-art production capacity, at the Port of Gulfport on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The new addition to America’s industrial manufacturing base opens with 60 employees and will hire another 15 full-time positions before the end of the year, Ocean Aero said in a release.
The facility represents the first phase of Ocean Aero’s manufacturing expansions, and it will enable the production of up to 150 Tritons per year, the company said. The Triton is Ocean Aero’s Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), reported to be the first vehicle of its kind.
“We’re very proud of what the team has accomplished in our two years located in Mississippi, and are looking forward to an even brighter future,” said Ocean Aero CEO Kevin Decker, in the release. “The timing couldn’t be better to add to our production base, given the recent announcement of Replicator and other ongoing programs championed at both the U.S. Navy and DoD levels.”
Ocean Aero has been consistently working with the U.S. Navy and many of its constituents around the world since moving to Mississippi. The company is an international exporter and has engaged with NOAA, as well as a number of universities, to conduct scientific services.
“The talent of our employees from the Mississippi area, the support we have received from the Gulf Blue ecosystem, and the unwavering dedication of the Mississippi elected officials have exceeded our expectations in every way,” said Decker. “We’re honored to be citizens of the local community.”
The company drew support from the Mississippi Development Authority, the Harrison County Development Commission, Mississippi Power, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Port of Gulfport, among others.
“The opening of Ocean Aero’s state-of-the-art facility on the Mississippi Gulf Coast marks a significant milestone in the journey toward a sustainable and thriving blue economy,” said Mississippi Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Laura Hipp, in the release. “By harnessing the potential of our coastal resources, Ocean Aero exemplifies the spirit of innovation and environmental stewardship. The company’s commitment to advancing marine technology not only positions Mississippi as a leader within the blue economy—it underscores the crucial role of our oceans in R&D and in shaping the future of our economy as a whole.”
Ocean Aero creates, manufactures, and distributes advanced unmanned ocean systems technology. Its signature product—The Triton—is reported to be the world’s first and only environmentally-powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV). The Triton can sail and submerge for what Ocean Aero called “unparalleled ocean data collection with ready-to-deploy packages and custom payloads for an array of applications.”