Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§4102 Coordination Regarding Assessment and Acquisition by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of Unmanned Maritime Systems

Title 33 › CHAPTER 54 — COMMERCIAL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH OCEAN TECHNOLOGY › § 4102

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The NOAA Administrator must make sure two NOAA offices work together to plan, test, and buy unmanned maritime systems and to think about using them in NOAA partnerships. The Administrator must run that work through the Unmanned Systems Executive Oversight Board and include people from ocean exploration, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and any other NOAA offices that work with these systems. NOAA must try to coordinate closely with the Navy. That includes using Navy experience and test ranges (for example, the Gulf of Mexico Unmanned Systems Test and Training Range), aligning on priorities, and signing a written agreement with the Navy that covers research priorities, partnering on buying systems, rules for using Navy ranges and facilities, and topics like mapping and ocean observations. NOAA should, when practical, do this work at sites where Navy and NOAA are co-located to speed testing, modification, integration, and the move from idea to acquisition. NOAA and the Navy may use the National Oceanographic Partnership Program to work with other federal agencies. NOAA may also team up with universities to boost research, train students, help commercialize technology, and give access to testing and training in real or simulated ocean conditions. NOAA may work with private companies to help bring systems to market and to test commercial systems that could support NOAA and Navy missions.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §4102

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment

The Administrator shall direct the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (in this chapter referred to as “OAR”) and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (in this chapter referred to as “OMAO”)—

(1)to coordinate the Administration’s research, assessment, and acquisition of unmanned maritime systems; and

(2)to consider the use of unmanned maritime systems in cooperative activities of the Administration.

(b)Coordination within the Administration

(1)Unmanned Systems Executive Oversight Board

In meeting the requirements described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall—

(A)utilize the Unmanned Systems Executive Oversight Board (in this chapter referred to as the “USEOB”) as the coordinating mechanism; and

(B)ensure that OAR and OMAO address requirements throughout the Administration.

(2)Included

In utilizing the USEOB under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall ensure that representation on the USEOB is included from the following:

(A)The Office of Ocean Exploration (OER).

(B)The program office of the Integrated Ocean Observing System.

(C)Such other offices of the Administration as the Administrator determines are actively engaged with unmanned maritime systems.

(c)Coordination with the Navy

(1)In general

In carrying out this chapter, the Administrator shall—

(A)make efforts to coordinate with the Secretary of the Navy to leverage expertise in the development and operational transition of unmanned maritime systems;

(B)align with, utilize, and inform the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Operations and the Oceanographer of the Navy’s strategic and operational priorities, particularly for missions and geography within the Administration’s purview;

(C)seek to utilize Naval unmanned systems test or training ranges, such as the Gulf of Mexico Unmanned Systems Test and Training Range of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, and maximize interagency cooperation and sharing of best practices; and

(D)to formalize coordination, execute a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of the Navy that includes—

(i)incorporating consideration of priorities and requirements of the Administration into research and development activities conducted by the Secretary of the Navy;

(ii)consultation intended to encourage and facilitate efforts by the Administration to partner with the Navy to procure unmanned maritime systems and to establish, instrument, and operate test or training ranges and related facilities;

(iii)adopting procedures defined by the Secretary of the Navy for the Administration to access and utilize test or training ranges or related Naval facilities for purposes identified in paragraph (2)(B); and

(iv)such other topics as the Administrator considers necessary or advisable, including mapping, bathymetry, observations, and ocean exploration.

(2)Location

The Administrator shall, if practicable, carry out the activities authorized by this chapter at a facility where the Navy and the Administration are co-located, for the following purposes:

(A)Gaining efficiencies through collaboration.

(B)Advancing development of unmanned maritime systems, including—

(i)systems research and development;

(ii)systems testing;

(iii)systems modifications; and

(iv)systems integration.

(C)Accelerating transition from concept to manufacturing and acquisition.

(d)Coordination with other Federal agencies

In carrying out this chapter, the Administrator and the Secretary of the Navy may utilize the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, established under chapter 665 of title 10, as a mechanism for providing interagency coordination for the advancement of unmanned maritime systems.

(e)Coordination with academic sector (f) Engagement with the private sector

In carrying out this chapter, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, may coordinate and co-locate with an academic research institution, or consortium of academic research institutions, for the following purposes:

(1)Maximizing opportunities for research and development of unmanned maritime systems.

(2)Providing training in unmanned maritime systems as part of an accredited certificate or degree program of education.

(3)Facilitating the commercialization of unmanned maritime systems through public-private partnerships that includes academic research institutions, private industry, and public safety agencies.

(4)Arranging access to and use of additional facilities that support testing and assessment of or training with respect to unmanned maritime systems under environmental conditions of interest, increasing operational tolerance under such conditions, certifying operational capacity under such conditions, whether real or simulated, and training operators of unmanned maritime systems in real or simulated environments.

(5)Facilitating engagement with other academic institutions with interest or relevant expertise in unmanned maritime systems.

(6)Promoting information sharing between the academic, environmental, and military institutions to lead to more robust, mission-oriented unmanned maritime systems.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 4102

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110