Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) will host the MATE ROV World competition for the first time since 2014!

This global competition empowers students to design, build, and deploy ROVs to tackle real-world challenges.  Each year the mission changes and is based on the host site for the World Competition, making 2025 all about the Great Lakes, specifically TBNMS. 

Mission tasks will take place in the outdoor test tank at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (the visitor center and museum for TBNMS)—a controlled, open-air environment designed to simulate real-world conditions. Teams will document a historic shipwreck, deploy a moored buoy equipped with environmental sensors, and collect and analyze water samples, all within this specially designed tank. Additionally, the team will focus on maintaining offshore wind turbines and floating solar panels systems, as well as deploying vertical profiling floats that contribute to global observing efforts. These tasks will play a crucial role in advancing marine technology and ocean monitoring.  

The event is expected to bring over 1,200 students, educators, professionals, and marine industry leaders from at least 10 different countries to the area.  The top ranger teams from each Regional Event are invited to compete at the World Competition.  For more information, including a complete list of competing teams and program sponsors, visit materovcompetition.org/world-championship.  

Last year’s event was in Kingsport, Tennessee and the year before that the competition was held in Longmont, Colorado.

This event is open to spectators!
ROV inspections are set to begin on June 17th and end on June 18th, with the competition beginning on June 19th.