Hydrographic surveying plays a critical role in maintaining safe and efficient operations in ports and other high-traffic waterways, where accurate, up-to-date seabed data directly impacts navigation and infrastructure planning. The Port of Long Beach, which boasts some of the deepest channels in the country and welcomes some of the largest ships as a result, relies on its in-house hydrographic surveying team and trusted partners to map the seafloor, support dredging operations and gather and share data with agencies like NOAA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, all to help keep goods and people moving.

After 35 years using a fiberglass pleasure craft-turned-survey boat for its operations, the Port of Long Beach’s Survey Division, led by director Kimberley Holtz, determined it was time to upgrade its vessel to better support the Port’s mission of precision mapping the seafloor beneath its 3,000 acres of water.

A call for proposals led Holtz and her team to Silver Ships, Inc., and the company’s extensive experience designing and building aluminum hydrographic surveying vessels for a variety of government and private customers.

“We were impressed when we met with the Silver Ships team as they answered all of our questions with thoughtfulness and had already developed great ideas for what we wanted based on the basics we initially provided,” said Holtz. “We worked closely with Silver Ships to customize the boat on things that were unique to our Port’s needs, and they were incredibly communicative and willing to make adjustments for us.”

The vessel that the Port and Silver Ships decided upon was a Catamaran 35 – dubbed POLB SEAL – with a 35-foot hull length, twin 300HP Mercury Outboards, joystick for precision maneuvering and a convenient walk-through cabin. Dual sonar units and a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system provide high-resolution data collection capabilities, while additional mission-specific outfitting includes extra seating and an outdoor sink. The catamaran style offers extra stability on the water and the aluminum hull provides added durability and easier maintenance than its fiberglass predecessor.

The Port of Long Beach is among the relatively few ports in the country with an in-house survey team that plays an enormous role in gathering data to support underwater seafloor mapping, above-water sensing, navigation safety and construction operations.

The new vessel, delivered in February 2026 and gearing up for full-time use, will be used to conduct pre-dredge and post-dredge surveys, monitor ongoing projects, collect and submit data to NOAA for CATZOC A1 rating, the highest level of seafloor mapping accuracy in which all hazards are found, and generally will help the Port’s Survey Division expand its abilities and partnerships with government agencies like NOAA and the USACE.

“This vessel was designed from the keel up as a data acquisition platform, not a repurposed boat,” said David Hunt, Director of Business Development at Silver Ships. “The catamaran hull provides a stable, predictable platform for multibeam and LiDAR systems, which directly improves data quality and repeatability. When you’re supporting dredging, construction and navigation safety at a port like Long Beach, accuracy isn’t a feature; it’s the mission.”

Holtz explains that her team surveys half of the Port of Long Beach each year, meaning the entire port is surveyed every two years. This is a large undertaking at a high level that other ports cannot manage without an in-house survey team and exceptional equipment. “Our data is always recent, which the pilots love,” said Holtz.

The Port is continually investing in the most modern, advanced equipment and facilities to enhance its competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

Acquisition of the new vessel is an example of the Port’s comprehensive efforts to ensure business continuity at one of the nation’s premier trade gateways. The safe, reliable and rapid movement of cargo at the Port results in significant economic benefits to the Southern California region, the state of California and the nation.

More details about the vessel and its mission can be found on the Port of Long Beach website.

Silver Ships is proud to be featured in June’s issue of WorkBoat Magazine, a spotlight on the Catamaran 35 Survey Vessel delivered to the Port of Long Beach. Read the article in the link below.

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