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Eastern Edge Robotics claims third place at Underwater Robotics World Championships

Newfoundland and Labrador teams competing at the 2025 MATE ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) World Championship in Alpena, MI this past weekend captured several major awards

Thursday, June 26, 2025 By Madeline Meadus

Memorial University’s Eastern Edge Robotics was awarded third place overall in the Explorer category and team CEO Martha Snelgrove received the Martin Klein MATE Mariner Medal. ROV pilot Kaitlin Healey took home the Oceaneering Co-Pilot Award for the entire competition.

The team is comprised of 30 students from faculties at Memorial University and the Marine Institute.

Western Wave Robotics—the team comprised of students from Memorial’s Grenfell Campus and College of the North Atlantic—competed in the Pioneer class for the first time. The team placed fourth and received the Engineering Presentation award. In the Ranger category, Labrador Straits Academy received the Technical Documentation Award and placed within the top 15 teams. Clarenville High School placed within the top 10 and Holy Heart of Mary finished within the top 20.

24 international teams competed in the Explorer class, 13 teams competed in the Pioneer class and 38 teams competed in the Ranger class.

“It’s incredible to see five provincial teams competing on a global scale.” said Joe Singleton, head, School of Ocean Technology and Regional Coordinator for the MATE ROV Newfoundland and Labrador regional competition.

MATE ROV all teams

“Eastern Edge has now placed within the top three at the competition 13 times which is a major accomplishment. This was also a fantastic showing for our Pioneer team Western Wave and our three Ranger teams.”

This year’s competition tasks related to measuring and identifying shipwrecks, collecting eDNA data of invasive marine species and maintaining marine renewable energy infrastructure and monitoring its environmental impact.

2026 World Championships

Next year, MI will be hosting the 2026 MATE ROV World Championship. This will be the third time the Marine Institute has hosted the World Championships; first in 2007 and again in 2015. To date, the Institute has been the only venue to host the World Championships outside of the US.

“With a strong showing at this year’s World Championships, we’re excited to see how our teams perform on their home turf next year.”

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