Abstract: A system and apparatus for autonomously fueling a surface water vessel such as an unmanned surface vehicles (USV). A fueling system is secured to the dockside of a land secured or waterborne fueling station. The fueling system has a hose reel, a hose pusher and mooring whip for extending the hose out of the water for access to the surface water vessel. The vessel is equipped with an actuated arm that pivots between a closed position and an open position to capture the hose and connect the nozzle of the hose to the fuel tank of the vessel. The fuel tank has an interface with a mounting plate, nozzle interface and electromagnets that pull, positively locate, and hold the nozzle into the nozzle interface to access the fuel tank and to fuel the vessel.