You are invited to join a PORTS® workshop!
A graphic showing a representation of the PORTS network and how it operates. NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) is currently conducting an assessment of its Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS®) Program to better understand data and gauging needs as well as funding required to expand, enhance, or implement PORTS at all U.S. seaports. As part of this effort, we are inviting stakeholders to participate in a virtual workshop and provide crucial insight into the data needed to ensure safe and efficient marine commerce. Several targeted regional workshops have taken place this summer and a few remain. Upcoming Regional Workshops: Make-up sessions are also available for interested parties in any region. Access the make-up registration link here and select from a date between now and September 19. Who should attend? Individual seaports, harbor or terminal operators, marine exchanges, harbor/river pilots, tugboat/assist operators familiar with seaports in the region that 1) either already have access to local NOAA PORTS data or 2) who navigate in locations in need of PORTS gauging. Please feel free to forward this to colleagues in this region who might be interested. For more information, contact: PORTS_program@noaa.gov. NOAA releases 2023 hydrographic survey season plans
An image of several survey vessels within the NOAA fleet. NOAA hydrographic survey ships, navigation response teams, and contractors are preparing for the 2023 hydrographic survey season. The ships and survey vessels collect bathymetric data (i.e. map the seafloor) to support nautical charting, modeling, and research and collect environmental data to support a variety of ecosystem sciences. NOAA considers hydrographic survey requests from stakeholders such as marine pilots, local port authorities, the Coast Guard, and the boating community and considers other hydrographic and NOAA science priorities in determining where to survey and when. Visit our “living” ArcGIS StoryMap to find out more about our mapping projects and if a hydrographic vessel will be in your area this year! Read more CO-OPS Has Expanded the Cape Cod-Buzzards Bay PORTS®
A graphic showing the location of stations in NOAA’s Cape Cod-Buzzards Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-time System (PORTS®) Early this year, NOAA expanded its Cape Cod-Buzzards Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®), installing two new stations at New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. The new stations are now fully integrated into the PORTS, which provides data to support critical maritime decision making on both sides of Cape Cod and through the Cape Cod Canal. As part of this project, a tidal water level station was installed at the southern end of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal (NBMCT), a 29-acre terminal site at the New Bedford Harbor. Additionally, a stand-alone meteorological station measuring wind, air temperature, and air pressure was installed on the New Bedford Hurricane Protection Barrier gate. Data from these stations will be particularly valuable for mariners navigating to and from a robust 1,200-foot-long pier equipped to support heavy lift cargo shipping and specialty vessels. Additionally, wind data from the new meteorological station will provide information for vessel loading operations and aid channel navigation at the Hurricane Protection Barrier. Read More NOAA Custom Chart version 2.0 now available to the public Earlier this year, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey released NOAA Custom Chart version 2.0, a dynamic map application which enables users to create their own paper and PDF nautical charts. The custom charts are derived from the official NOAA Electronic Navigational Chart (NOAA ENC®), NOAA’s premier nautical chart product. The online application uses the latest official NOAA ENC data to create nautical charts with customized scale and extent, which can then be downloaded as PDF files. The data on the chart is presented in a manner similar to traditional paper nautical charts, showing soundings, buoys, beacons and other aids to navigation, compass roses and the like.
Read more Ocean and coastal mapping matching fund opportunity | | Calling all ocean and coastal mapping enthusiasts; the Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan Mapping Matching Fund program announcement has been released. This particular partnership opportunity is geared towards non-federal partners (academia, tribes, private sector, states/regions/localities, etc.). We need everyone’s help pushing this notice out to external stakeholders. Please share this opportunity with your contacts interested in ocean and coastal mapping of their waters—all interests are welcome! Questions or interested in learning more? Register for our informational webinar on August 10, 2023 at 1 p.m. (EDT). Federal Register Notice. |
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