In December 2024, OET partnered with LeeWay Marine to become the trust's vessel manager – responsible for crewing the vessel and overseeing the technical support and operational planning required to complete the critical missions scheduled for Exploration Vessel Nautilus. 

LeeWay Marine is a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based ship owner and operator, providing at-sea data acquisition, and vessel management services to their clients. Technologically forward-leaning, they are thought leaders in the maritime industry, and lead the Royal Canadian Navy's effort to test and evaluate novel maritime technology at sea.