Blue Robotics Inc., one of the fastest growing makers of underwater marine robotics systems, is anchoring its future at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles.

The company, currently based in Torrance, has signed a 10-year lease for a 49,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility at the 35-acre campus dedicated to ocean science and tech innovation – making it one of the largest single leases in the nonprofit’s 10-year history.

The move positions Blue Robotics at the center of Southern California’s emerging marine-tech corridor in San Pedro – which is already home to a cluster of about 32 ocean-focused startups, academic researchers and sustainability ventures all working to tackle climate and ocean challenges.

“We’re extremely excited about the move,” said Rustom “Rusty” Jehangir, founder and chief executive of Blue Robotics. “It’s going to be an incredible place for our team to work every day. It’s going to be inspiring, (and) it’s going to bring us closer to a community of like-minded (ocean tech companies and other research-based organizations).”

Blue Robotics will join a range of companies with hubs located at AltaSea’s expansive campus, including ABC Solar Inc., Arc Boat Co. and Eco Wave Power. University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, California Institute of Technology and the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife also have a prominent presence on campus.

“We’re excited about the kinds of people who will be around us and for the collaborations, and the kind of synergies that could come out of being in community,” said Jehangir.

With the new lease with Blue Robotics, AltaSea’s Center for Innovation is now about 85% leased.

“What we bring is a unique facility in Los Angeles, especially for a company like Blue Robotics, whose business is literally in the ocean,” said Terry Tamminen, president and chief executive of AltaSea.

Founded in 2014, Blue Robotics is known for its nimble underwater vehicles and components. That includes its flagship BlueROV2, a remote-controlled mobile unit used for research, offshore inspection, conservation projects and environmental monitoring.

The new headquarters, which is nearly twice the size of its Torrance offices, will be home to Blue Robotics’ research and development operations and overall production facility for its marine robotics line.

For the last 10 years, Jehangir said that he and his team had already been using AltaSea’s facility as a testing site for its product line – so, it only made sense for his company to move closer. He added that Blue Robotics has also nearly doubled its workforce over the last few years as demand has spiked across sectors.

The larger footprint at AltaSea offers Blue Robotics the room overall to expand across the board – from its production lines and testing facilities to its engineering labs and collaboratives workspaces.

“It gives us quick access, which speeds up the development cycle, allows us to learn and innovate and test things much more quickly,” he said. 

Also in that timeframe, Jehangir and his team have supported AltaSea’s educational programming for the local schools, offering students a chance to explore a host of subjects related to robotics and the ocean.

“One of the most exciting things for them is to be able to operate a (one of its) robots underwater or even on the surface of the water,” said Tamminen.

He added that Blue Robotics will continue to serve as a great resource for the nonprofit in its efforts to raise awareness about the “emerging blue economy.”

Construction and build-out of the new Blue Robotics facility are expected to begin in early 2026 with an expected grand opening by the end of the year. The company will continue to operate out of its Torrance location until the new site is completed.