Along the same Baltimore waterfront that once launched Liberty ships during World War II, a new generation of vessels are making waves. A stark contrast from steel-hulled freighters of the Second World War, BlackSea Technologies’ unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are developed and built in a large advanced manufacturing facility on the shore of the Patapsco River.

Once manufactured and equipped with the right tech to meet its customers needs, each 16‑foot USV goes through extensive quality control testing on the Patapsco River, just feet away from the manufacturing floor. On any given day, BlackSea Technologies’ USVs – known as GARCs (Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft) – zoom through the Patpasco waters, controlled by an operator on another boat. The operator conducts extensive tests to ensure the USV is ready for its intended mission. GARCs can also be controlled by remote stations anywhere in the world and run autonomously.

Many GARCs will go on to support the U.S. Navy, allowing sailors to have eyes and ears on critical situations, without human risk. GARCs can provide persistent watch over waterways – collecting video, radar, and other data for analysis. They can also be configured to carry sensors and systems to track or intercept hostile surface craft. In some instances, GARCs provide communications relay, acting as mobile “cell towers at sea” to keep ships, aircraft, and shore stations connected across vast distances.

As Tim O’Conner, Director of BlackSea’s Advanced Technology Group told National Defense Magazine, GARC is “really good at doing the dull, dangerous or dirty stuff when you don’t want to put a human in harm’s way,” freeing up sailors for “higher level thinking where they’ll go from being an individual player on the field to an orchestrator.”

While the Naval uses of GARCs are vast, the USVs have many non-military use cases. They have been used in counternarcotic operations, in fisheries enforcement, and in maritime rescue and resupply. They also are helpful in offshore infrastructure planning, with capability to map the ocean floor, inspect pipelines, and monitor offshore energy sites.

BlackSea Technologies was formed in 2022 following the strategic acquisition of several companies that shared a mission-first mindset. Today, the company employs 200 people at its Baltimore headquarters, and more than 20 from a satellite location in Bethesda. BlackSea Technologies is heavily staffed with engineers, along with naval architects and operations and logistics specialists. Technicians, welders, and various business support roles round out the staff.

For BlackSea Technologies CEO Chris Devine, there is no better place to be than in Maryland for innovating in the defense sector.

“For companies building serious defense tech, Maryland checks every box,” Devine said. “Engineering talent, mission-aligned infrastructure, and leadership that supports growth. It is a place where we can move fast and build what matters.”

And building fast they are – currently producing 32 GARC units a month. Since its 2022 formation, BlackSea Technologies has realized annual organic revenue growth of more than 80 percent, and is projected to reach over $200 million in revenue this year.

“We are building a company that can anticipate threats, adapt in real time, and deliver solutions that keep our naval forces ahead of the curve,” Devine said. “The future of maritime dominance will belong to those who can innovate and produce at the pace of the mission and that is exactly where we intend to lead.”