Ocean Engineering Department at Texas A&M University

Meet undergraduate student Samantha Garcia from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who is making waves this summer in our ocean engineering research labs through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program! Today, Samantha is using simulation tools to study how beaches recover after storms. The latest experiment looks at how adding sediment offshore can help combat coastal erosion. The goal? To better understand how waves can drive natural recovery and protect our coastlines.

🌊 Summer research is in full swing in the Ocean Engineering Department! We’re excited to welcome undergraduate students Samantha Garcia, Annah Trevino, and Kevin Cardenas from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), who have joined us through our partnership with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).

This talented trio is diving into projects like investigating rail static tester dynamics and friction, conducting advanced soil testing, and exploring how our coastal beaches respond and recover after storms—uncovering the fascinating ways sediment moves and rebuilds!

Stay tuned as they share their discoveries and hands-on experiences throughout the summer. Welcome aboard, Samantha, Annah, and Kevin! 👋🔬🌴

🌊 Last week, the Ocean Engineering Department at Texas A&M was thrilled to welcome the Marine Autonomy Workshop, hosted by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Laboratory for Ocean Innovation (LOI)!

The event was a huge success, bringing together top leaders and brilliant minds from industry, government, and academia to dive deep into the future of marine autonomy. With around 15 companies and 70 passionate attendees, the workshop was alive with exciting research, innovative ideas, and dynamic discussions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to help drive the next wave of ocean engineering innovation! Stay tuned for more updates and future collaborations. 🌊

🌟 Student Highlights 🌟
Congratulations to Ocean Engineering Ph.D. students Julia Gionet-Gonzales and Ashley Mullen on receiving renewable energy scholarships! 🌊🎓
Both Julia and Ashley are pursuing their doctorates in Ocean Engineering under the guidance of Dr. Girimaji. Their research focuses on oscillating water column wave energy converters, and they are both expected to graduate in 2026.
Julia completed her undergraduate studies at UC Merced, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. ⚙️ Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from Texas A&M before beginning her doctoral journey. 🌎
Julia hopes her research will contribute to greater energy security and reliability 🔋, while Ashley is passionate about improving clean energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints. 🌱🌞
Best wishes to these outstanding students—we can’t wait to see the innovative contributions you’ll make in the field of renewable energy!! 👏

🏁⚡PEP26 Final Wrap-Up: Rising to the Challenge & Eyeing the Future!⚡🏁
What a finish! Even faced with unexpected structural setbacks, the ocean engineering students on the Texas A&M Electric Boat Team refused to back down—surging ahead to outperform more than half of the qualified competition. The vessel’s electric propulsion and control systems stood strong under real race conditions, proving the power of Aggie engineering and their forward-thinking design.
This year’s competition was a masterclass in adaptability and problem-solving. Despite every curveball thrown their way, the team met each one with determination, grit, and true teamwork. The lessons learned have only energized us for what’s next.
Looking ahead, the team is excited to announce plans for a bold new hull design. Building on this season’s reliable propulsion and electrical systems, the 2026 team is already charting a course for even greater achievements.
The 2026 Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition showcased what Aggies are made of—and demonstrated that the best is yet to come. Thank you Kai, Nevin, Philemon, Allen, Andrew and Thomas for all your hard work!👏👏
Stay tuned, and Gig ’em! 👍⚡🚤

🌊⚡Day 2 Endurance Race: Resilience on the Water!⚡🌊
Day 2 saw ocean engineering students from the Texas A&M Electric Boat Team enter the high-stakes Unmanned Division, where pilots expertly guided their vessels remotely from a Navy-operated chase boat. The Aggies kicked off strong—the boat cruised smoothly through the challenging endurance course, maintaining stable control and consistent propulsion while covering more than half a nautical mile!
But the competition threw another twist their way. Partway through the race, the team noticed a developing issue with the hull’s structure. After retrieval and a closer look, they discovered that a hairline crack—traced back to earlier shipping damage—had expanded under the strain, ultimately limiting the boat’s ability to complete the full course.
Despite this setback, our team’s quick thinking, determination, and technical skill were front and center. Every challenge only fuels their resolve to push the limits of electric propulsion and represent Aggie engineering at its finest.
Stay tuned—this journey is far from over. We’re repairing, learning, and coming back stronger!
Gig ’em, Texas A&M! 👍⚡🚤

🚤⚡Qualifying: Overcoming Adversity, Charging Forward! ⚡🚤
Ocean engineering students on the Texas A&M Electric Boat Team—Kai Marayag, Nevin McKay, Philemon Kim, Allen Lawrence, Andrew Tucker, and Thomas Turner—officially landed in Portsmouth City Park, VA, ready to make waves at the prestigious Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition (PEP26)!
But right out of the gate, they were thrown a curveball: after unpacking, the team found shipping-related damage to BOTH the hull and the mechanical drive system! Without missing a beat, these Aggies rolled up their sleeves and leapt into repair mode, showing true perseverance and teamwork under pressure. 💪
Thanks to their determination, the team managed to restore the vessel just in time for the crucial qualifying round. 🛠️
As ocean engineering student Andrew Tucker shared, “Despite these challenges, Texas A&M successfully completed the 200-meter qualification run, earning a place among only 18 teams that advanced to the final race. This performance highlighted the robustness of the vessel’s electrical and propulsion systems, which operated as designed under competition conditions.”
Their resilience and innovative spirit truly shined—demonstrating the strength of their electrical and propulsion systems under real-world, high-stakes conditions.
Stay tuned, Aggie fans—our journey is just getting started! Gig ‘em! 👍🚤✨

Ready, Set, Innovate! 💡⚡🚤
From April 15-16, 2026, the Elizabeth River at Portsmouth City Park, VA, was electrified as the Office of Naval Research and the American Society of Naval Engineers brought together more than 350 brilliant engineering students from 46 universities for the Promoting Electric Propulsion Collegiate Boat Competition (PEP26)! 🌊
Engineering teams from across the country hit the water to showcase their cutting-edge, unmanned vessel designs capable of carrying a 60-pound payload and battled it out in thrilling races. Our very own A&M ocean engineering students made waves with their creativity and innovation, proudly representing our school with an impressive electric-powered boat! 🚢💡
Curious to see how our team powered through the competition? Tune in TOMORROW for behind-the-scenes action and highlights from Day 1 of their incredible journey! 🙌
Texas A&M Electric Boat Team Picture 📷
Kai Marayag, Nevin Mckay, Philemon Kim, Allen Lawrence, Andrew Tucker and Thomas Turner

We’re thrilled to announce that our team of ocean engineering students—Emily Chacon, Uriel Soto, Seth Terry, and Levin Zelaya—delivered an outstanding performance at the 9th Annual TXAPA Asphalt Road-eo in Buda, Texas on April 11th!
Competing against 13 other teams, Emily, Uriel, Seth, and Levin impressed the judges with their innovative approach by integrating dredged sand into their asphalt mixture. Their creativity and engineering skills earned them an impressive 4th place overall, 3rd place in the rutting category, and 4th in the cracking category!
All teams were challenged to use the same materials to develop a unique 20x20 inch asphalt slab, which was then evaluated for friction, rutting, cracking, and the incorporation of innovative materials.
Congratulations to Emily, Uriel, Seth, and Levin on this fantastic achievement! Your hard work and ingenuity make us proud. 👏🥳
A big thank you to Dr. Charles Gurganus and Rick Davenport for supporting our students and playing a vital role in their success!

Did you know that collisions between marine vessels and stationary structures are on the rise? These incidents can cause major disruptions and safety risks at sea!
Ocean engineering researchers at Texas A&M University have developed the SMART-SEA system to help prevent these dangerous situations. Their innovative work was recently featured in the April 2026 issue of Marine Technology magazine, in an article titled “Evasive Action: Building a Better Collision Avoidance Tool” Dr. Mirjam Fürth explains that SMART-SEA is “a system that gives seafarers real-time guidance on how and when to maneuver their vessel.”
Dr. Fürth and her team are seeing promising results from their research—SMART-SEA could make our oceans safer for everyone!