The Corps of Exploration aboard E/V Nautilus are officially in shakedown! But what is shakedown, and what exactly do we do?

Shakedown is a pre-season period during which we test all the technology and equipment on the ship to prepare it for the fieldwork ahead. The ship will sail from Honolulu on a short expedition during which we will test our mapping sonars, ROVs, and telepresence systems to ensure everything is ready to go. Our maritime crew, ROV operations, mapping, video systems, and data teams work together to confirm that all systems are ready for the season.

Stay tuned as we gear up for the 2026 season!

At OET, we're passionate about open-access data. By openly sharing data collected during expeditions with scientists worldwide, we will build upon decades of research, stewardship, and discovery. One of the initiatives our data will support is the NOAA ‘Omics Strategy, designed to dramatically expand the application of ‘omics—a suite of leading-edge methods used to analyze materials such as DNA, RNA, or proteins. Collecting eDNA (environmental DNA) in our oceans can provide comprehensive biological data more efficiently, resulting in more timely public access to information.