This will be Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s (TBNMS) fifth year welcoming Viking Expedition ships into the port of Alpena. The 665-foot cruise ships carry 378 guests and 256 crew members. The sister-ships Polaris and Octantis each anchor in Thunder Bay and use tender boats to bring guests to shore. They come ashore at The [...]
This is your chance to win a gorgeous 17-foot long wooden kayak with seat and two hatch covers, handcrafted by Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing, Inc., Community Boat Builders in Tawas, Michigan. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Proceeds support Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Heritage Coast’s Community Boat [...]
Presented by Captain Luke Clyburn United States Merchant Marine Captain Join us for an evening of maritime exploration as we celebrate the Noble Odyssey Foundation’s incredible 50-year legacy of Great Lakes research. The Noble Odyssey Foundation (NOF) brings together scientists, educators, and youth with an interest in underwater exploration and research to develop and support [...]
Underwater Robots Take On a Mission-Based Competition! 🤖⚓ Join us for the 2026 Great Lakes Regional MATE ROV Competition, where the next generation of engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs put their skills to the test in a high-tech underwater showdown. Student teams have spent months designing and building remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to tackle complex missions [...]
What does it take to build a robot that can work underwater? Alpena High Schools’ UR² Team (Underwater Robotics & Research) will answer that by showcasing the newest technology they engineered for the 2026 MATE ROV Competition and professional exploration in an upcoming community lecture. This rare behind-the-scenes look features student-built technology inspired by the [...]
On Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, you can catch “Banding Birds and Breaking Ice,” the latest episode of Great Lakes Now from Detroit PBS. On the next episode of Great Lakes Now, you will visit Kelleys Island, where Tom and Paula Bartlett are on a mission to band 100,000 birds. Plus, when winter [...]