Coast Survey completes hydrographic survey response to hurricanes Delta and Zeta |
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NOAA’s navigation response teams completed hydrographic surveys in areas affected by hurricane’s Delta and Zeta at the request of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These areas included portions of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Louisiana and in the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi. With lessons learned from the response to Hurricane Laura — the first major hurricane of the 2020 season and the first hurricane response during a pandemic — the teams successfully collected and processed data in separate locations, identifying dangers to navigation and ensuring ports have the necessary information to reopen after severe weather. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson also supported the response effort by surveying the entrance to Calcasieu Ship Channel and finding a sunken barge below the surface. All survey data was processed and delivered to the Army Corps to ensure timely reopening of waterways. |
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NOAA works with local partner to improve marine navigation near Valdez, Alaska |
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NOAA and the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) have established a new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) in the vicinity of Port Valdez, Alaska. Two new meteorological sensors will aid mariners navigating the waters close to the Port of Valdez. This seaport is projected to see an increase in commercial ship traffic and passenger cruise ships in the next five to ten years. Known as the northernmost U.S. port that does not freeze over in winter, the Port of Valdez is an ideal access point for goods shipped to interior Alaska locations. This is NOAA’s 36th PORTS installation nationwide. PORTS is a successful public-private partnership program with local partners to install, maintain, and distribute data from real-time tide, current, meteorological, and air gap sensors in areas in or outside seaports that need this information for navigation safety. |
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NOAA collects damage assessment imagery after Hurricane Delta |
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NOAA collected aerial damage assessment images in the aftermath of Hurricane Delta. NOAA flight crews collected images in specific areas in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other state and federal partners. The crew flew more than 5,212 square kilometers during 12 hours and collected 9,741 images. NOAA’s aerial imagery aids safe navigation and captures damage to coastal areas caused by a storm. Aerial imagery is a crucial tool to determine the extent of the damage inflicted by flooding, and to assess the damage to major ports and waterways, coastlines, critical infrastructure, and coastal communities. This imagery provides a cost-effective way to better understand the damage sustained to both property and the environment. |
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NOAA hosts second annual Precision Marine Navigation stakeholder workshop |
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On September 30 and October 1 more than 200 users from across the maritime navigation community came together for a virtual workshop on precision marine navigation. The workshop included sessions geared toward different user groups including software developers, end users such as pilots, and to partners across the federal government. The workshop featured presentations on the new processing and dissemination system from NOAA data providers, from partners across government agencies, and in industry. These presentations were followed up by discussion sessions where attendees provided NOAA with feedback on the program developments and future direction. This year’s workshop reaffirmed NOAA’s goals for the Precision Marine Navigation program and highlighted priority areas for our users and partners. |
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NOAA’s Precision Marine Navigation program released two new visualization resources |
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The first resource is a beta version Precision Marine Navigation Data Gateway map viewer allowing users to explore NOAA’s new data services. Currently, the Data Gateway presents prototype surface current forecast guidance, and new layers will be added as they are developed. The second resource is a Data Dashboard which uses information from the program’s socio-economic study as well as information on NOAA priorities to convey how these priorities line up across the ports and port complexes. These resources will help to communicate NOAA’s efforts to improve marine navigation data services with stakeholders. |
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Announcement NOAA is soliciting nominations for membership on the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP), a federal advisory committee that advises the NOAA administrator on the agency’s hydrographic programs, products, data, and technology. The panel advises NOAA on operations and research issues related to hydrographic surveying, nautical charts, tides and currents, geodetic and geospatial measurements, and coastal preparedness. Applicants should have expertise in marine navigation and technology; port administration; marine shipping or other intermodal transportation industries; cartography and geographic information systems; geodesy; physical oceanography; coastal resource management, including coastal preparedness and emergency response; or other science-related fields. Nominations must be received by April 26, 2021, for a term that starts in 2022. Nominations are on a rolling admission and those received after April 26, 2021, will be kept on file and may be used for future panel vacancies. For more information on how to apply, see the Federal Register Notice or follow the link below. |
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NOAA tide stations provide vital data to Nation’s Tsunami Warning Network |
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Observations from NOAA water level stations at Sand Point and King Cove, Alaska, along with three DART buoys were critical in helping the National Weather Service, National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) assess the tsunami threat from the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that occurred on October 19 off Sand Point, Alaska. In addition, NOAA stations at Kahului Harbor and Hilo, Hawaii, helped provide critical information to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, triggering a tsunami advisory after a wave height of over one foot was observed. In addition to observations in Alaska and Hawaii, the tsunami was observed at Crescent City, California, a station very sensitive to tsunami observations. No tsunami advisory was issued for the west coast though since the maximum wave height was not as high as it was in Alaska and Hawaii. NOAA tsunami-capable tide stations provide valuable data to the tsunami warning centers that directly impact the tsunami watches, warnings and National Weather Service advisories issued to the public. |
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Marine Navigation near Corpus Christi, Texas, safer with two new visibility sensors |
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NOAA installed two new visibility sensors that are now operational as part of the Corpus Christi Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTSⓇ). The Corpus Christi seaport is undergoing an expansion, including deepening their ship channels to allow for larger ship access. Real-time observations are critical for the safe and efficient transit of vessels into and out of the Port of Corpus Christi. Additional visibility, water level, and meteorological sensors will be added over the next year to accommodate this growing seaport and its need for real-time data. PORTS is a successful public-private partnership with one or more local partners to install, maintain, and distribute data from real-time tide, current, meteorological, and air gap sensors in areas in or outside seaports that need this information for navigation safety. |
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