The 2025 MATE ROV World Championship kicked off at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena, drawing more than 1,000 students from 18 countries. This international event features over 70 teams competing with their underwater robots called Remotely Operated Vehicles, or ROVs.
Alpena is hosting this year’s competition, and the challenges reflect tasks often done in the Great Lakes. Students must complete missions such as studying shipwrecks, tracking invasive species, and exploring energy and solar solutions in marine settings.
Daniel Moffatt, Stewardship and Education Specialist for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, explained the event’s purpose. “They are all working on the same mission, which is Great Lakes and ocean science,” he said. “The students focus on maritime history, aquatic invasive species, and energy technology.”
The competition tests the ROVs in three timed stages: setting up the machine, completing the mission in the water tank, and packing the equipment away. Teams also create posters explaining their ROV design and give a sales pitch to the judges.
Moffatt emphasized how the event helps students gain hands-on experience and build skills useful in marine careers. “This is a real way to see what a job in marine technology looks like,” he said. “The students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that help them beyond school.”
One team, TecXotic, came from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. Their ROV, named Penta, features eight thrusters for precise underwater movement and a claw that rotates 360 degrees, mimicking human hand motions. Dulce Bucio, a team member, shared the excitement about their tenth year competing.
“We have high hopes for our first demo,” Bucio said. “This is the result of years of effort, mistakes, and learning.”
Another team, U.Stall, traveled from Esslingen University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Team member Benedikt Salecker spoke about the pride of bringing German engineering to the event.
“It’s a great competition,” Salecker said. “We want to inspire other teams and learn from their ideas too.”
Beyond the contest, teams support each other. When TecXotic’s controller broke, another team lent theirs to help. Bucio called the community “very special” for its kindness and respect.
The MATE ROV World Championship continues with awards planned for the evening at Alpena Community College Park Arena. Holly Kriendler, Senior Vice President of Oceaneering International, will deliver remarks during the ceremony.
This event offers students a unique chance to connect, learn, and show their skills in marine technology on a global stage.
