NightTrain Autonomous Vessel Reaches Milestone with Keel Laying
BALTIMORE, Md., Jan. 30, 2026 - BlackSea Technologies marked a key milestone in the development of its NightTrain autonomous surface vessel with a keel-laying ceremony, formally beginning construction of a platform designed to support contested and clandestine logistics operations for the Joint Force.
The keel laying signifies NightTrain’s transition from design to physical construction and reflects growing confidence in autonomous logistics as a viable operational capability. NightTrain is designed to transport meaningful cargo over long distances in contested maritime environments, reducing risk to personnel while supporting distributed operations.
“NightTrain is a leap forward in technology. It is a way to think about moving cargo that is completely different than the way we do it now, and it adapts to the operational realities that we will face in an era where we are being challenged on every front by peer adversaries,” said Mr. Patrick Kelleher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Material Readiness. “The simple fact of making it and thinking about it presents our adversaries with a dilemma.”
Kelleher at podium
NightTrain concept art
NightTrain is an autonomous, low-profile logistics vessel designed to deliver containerized payloads directly to forward forces operating in contested maritime environments. Built to move at scale across inter-theater distances, NightTrain carries standard ISO containers and releases cargo without reliance on ports, cranes, aircraft, or protected infrastructure.
“With NightTrain we have engineered a system that enables end-to-end resupply from staging bases to austere shorelines, sustaining forces operating inside denied environments,” said Todd Greene, BlackSea’s director of Advanced Technologies. “Its survivable design, long-range performance, and ability to operate without fixed logistics nodes allow commanders to sustain forces where traditional sealift and airlift cannot operate.”
The ceremony hosted leaders from the U.S. Department of War and Department of Commerce, International Trade Division, the Maryland Department of Commerce, the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the Greater Baltimore Committee and the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences.
Additionally, as the origin of NightTrain was a creative concept born and proven at the US Naval Academy, distinguished faculty and Midshipmen naval architects and weapons, robotics and controls engineers attended the event.
“Today, we're celebrating a milestone in innovation for the naval war fighter and over a dozen Midshipman projects since 2021 have worked to develop this concept,” said Professor Jenelle Piepmeier, PhD, Chair of the U.S. Naval Academy Weapons, Robotics, and Control Engineering Department, the sponsor for the ceremony. “This collaboration really showcases the unique strength of a joint military civilian faculty at the United States Naval Academy with direct contribution to the Navy and the warfighter.”
A naval tradition dating back centuries, the keel-laying ceremony symbolizes commitment to a vessel’s construction and future service, both Kelleher and Piepmeier donned protective equipment to weld a coin to NightTrain keel.
Kelleher tack welds a coin to the NightTrain keel
The keel-laying follows completion of detailed design work and the establishment of production fixtures, marking forward progress for the program. Construction activities will continue as the platform advances toward on-water testing.
NightTrain supports multiple classes of supply including subsistence, fuel, and ammunition using standard container interfaces. This compatibility allows seamless integration into existing logistics planning and supply chains. The result is a flexible resupply platform that adapts to evolving operational demands without specialized infrastructure.
More on NightTrain here https://www.blacksea.tech/nighttrain
About BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies is a premier naval technology firm enabling new asymmetric strategies to ensure U.S. naval and military forces prevail in multi-dimensional conflicts for decades to come. The company delivers innovative maritime systems and mission solutions to America’s warfighters, from the ocean surface to the seabed. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, BlackSea produces the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) sUSV and other vessels at the historic Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, where Liberty Ships were built during World War II.
For more information about BlackSea, please visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Jason Salata
