It was announced from Washington DC on 27 February that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) is seeking start-ups to develop or adapt a system to more clearly mark and track objects in the water.

Known as the new Maritime Object Tracking Technology an invitation was posted that day for a new technology that could become a valuable part of mission execution for the US Coast Guard (USCG).