News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Tuesday, an ROV team from Hong Kong is seen standing outside the NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. This is the second time that a Hong Kong team has been to Alpena for a MATE ROV Competition World Championship.

ALPENA — The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will be hosting the 2025 Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition World Championship Thursday through Saturday in Alpena.

According to a TBNMS press release, the championship hasn’t been hosted at TBNMS since 2014. This is the competition’s 23rd year, bringing together students from across the globe to showcase their skills in marine technology. The competition is part of the Marine Technology Society (MTS), and TBNMS explains that the program challenges student teams to design and build ROVs.

This year’s theme is “UN Decade of the Ocean, MATE Year of the Great Lakes: Exploring, Monitoring, and Protecting Our Water World,” according to the TBNMS press release. A total of 79 teams from 18 countries around the world will take part in the championship.

The press release states that this year’s mission tasks take place in the outdoor tank at the TBNMS visitor center, also known as the NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Teams will document a historic shipwreck, deploy a moored buoy equipped with sensors, collect and analyze water samples, all within a specially designed tank.

“These students continue to impress with their problem-solving ability and professionalism,” Jill Zande, MATE executive director, said in the press release. “Bringing the World Championship back to Alpena — where we held it in 2014 — is incredibly special. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage with marine technology and maritime heritage.”

Jeff Gray, superintendent of TBNMS, told The News that the championship is usually held in bigger cities than Alpena, so it is significant that MATE chose Alpena for a second time.

“I remember when we got the opportunity to host in 2014,” Gray said. “It was just an amazing experience … watching what these kids accomplish is incredible. It was just amazing to see how the community all pitched in and helped out.”

Zande told The News that community members have been more than willing to support international competitors and accommodate them.

“The same thing is happening again this year,” Zande said. “Very much a welcoming community.”

Gray explained that TBNMS has been partners with MATE for over 20 years. He said that Northeast Michigan supports the sanctuary’s ability to hold events like the ROV MATE World Competition Championship.

“And I think we’re able to host this,” Gray said, “because of the community willing to all join in and help out.”

Gray also noted that the infrastructure of the TBNMS campus allows for them to host big events, like the championship.

Zande added that the competition happening at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is significant because it allows the organization to expose student participants from around the world to a unique, freshwater ecosystem.

“We have thousands of students across the country and around the world that have participated this year … (who) have learned about the sanctuary, Alpena, and all the different resources here,” Zande said. “For the winners to come here, really see it … to be able to take opportunities like Glass Bottom Boat Tours … is just incredible.”

Not only does the championship challenge students to be innovators, but it also opens doors for employment. Zande and Gray explained that there are many industry leaders and companies that attend the competition and seek talent from the pool of competitors.

“I was amazed (in 2014) the number of students that get job offers here,” Gray said.

Zande added that though not all the students competing will go into ocean and freshwater science, the experience of competing will stay with them for a lifetime.

“They will always remember this,” Zande said. “They will carry this with them … to always remember the importance and what it meant and why preserving, conserving, and making sure that we maintain all of our aquatic systems is important and should be valued.”

Gray said that the competition brings over 1,200 people to the area, boosting the local economy, and promoting the natural resources of Northeast Michigan. He also highlighted two teams from Alpena that will be competing alongside global competitors.

“We have two Alpena teams competing … that’s not taken for granted,” Gray said. “They had to win the regionals to get here … it is hard to get to the world championships … that’s a huge accomplishment and dedication from some awesome teachers that made that happen.”

The ROV World Competition begins Thursday and ends Saturday. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is located at 500 W. Fletcher St. in Alpena.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.