Mexican Navy to Reinforce Sargassum Cleanup With 15 New Vessels in the Mexican Caribbean

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Navy will expand its sargassum cleanup operation in the Mexican Caribbean with 15 new vessels and three dynamic barriers, officials announced.

Adm. Topiltzin Tlacaletl Flores Jaramillo, coordinator of the Sargassum Attention Strategy, said the new fleet will include seven coastal vessels, six semi-oceanic vessels and two oceanic vessels. The additions will be supported by three mobile barriers designed to concentrate seaweed like a trawl operation.

The Navy also expects to bring the vessel Sargasum into service after its conversion is complete. Once operational, the vessel is projected to collect up to 600 tons of sargassum per day, depending on seaweed concentrations and weather conditions. By comparison, the existing Natans has a daily capacity of about 250 tons.

Both ships will be based at Puerto Morelos but can move to other stretches of coastline as needed.

Flores Jaramillo said the six semi-oceanic vessels are scheduled to start joining the fleet between late 2026 and early 2027, while the two oceanic vessels are expected by mid-2027. The seven coastal vessels and three barriers will supplement the 11 sargassum collection ships currently in operation.

The strategy focuses on collecting sargassum offshore before it reaches the beaches, with additional containment closer to shore. Three collection vessels are currently assigned to Playa del Carmen, and others are moved according to monitoring data and seaweed buildup.

The Sargasum has already crossed the Panama Canal on its way to the Mexican Caribbean and will be able to operate from Cancún south to Mahahual, the admiral noted.