An autonomous underwater vehicle packed with valuable ocean data is adrift in the Pacific — and researchers are asking for the yachting community’s help getting it back.
Not-for-profit Yachts for Science has appealed on social media on behalf of the University of Washington (UW), which was using the Seaglider for research purposes. According to Yachts for Science, it’s now about 1,100 nautical miles southeast of Hawaii, pinging GPS signals that are accurate to within feet.
UW’s Ocean Technology Program uses the vehicles, which weigh about 120 lbs. each, to collect ocean data including oxygen, salinity, temperature and chlorophyll. This one was being piloted by students at the Student Seaglider Center, and it had been collecting data for months.
Yachts for Science describes the situation as the “ultimate science Easter egg hunt” and says that because of the signals the vehicle is sending, “there’s a real chance to recover it — if the right yacht is in the area.”
The bright pink Seagilder’s pink nose and orange antenna will be visible. It will continue sending GPS coordinates for about three months.
Anyone able to help can reach out to Yachts for Science at yachtsforscience.com/contact-us.