noaa – Pacific Maritime Magazine

10 Sep

West Coast Entities Awarded Marine Debris Removal Funding

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdebris, marinedebris, noaa

West Coast agencies are poised to receive a slice of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s $23 million Climate-Ready Coasts initiative funding for the removal and interception of marine debris, the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA said Sept. 5. Recipients include the City of Oakland, which is being awarded about $3.1 million to extract dilapidated vessels, appliances, furniture and other large debris from the Oakland Alameda Estuary and help launch a boat buy-back program and drive cleanups along the shoreline, among other efforts. Meanwhile, the Gulf of Alaska Keeper has secured nearly $3.8 million to team up with the…

11 Jun

U.S. Marine Sector a Major National Economic Contributor, Data Show

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newseconomicanalysis, mesa, noaa

The U.S. marine sector generated $777 billion in sales, supported 2.4 jobs and accounted for $476 billion in economic impact in 2022, according to data released June 6 by NOAA and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The annual Marine Economy Satellite Account (MESA) data highlighted tourism and recreation as the sector’s biggest contributor with $163 billion, followed by national defense and public administration with $149 billion and offshore minerals with $62 billion. Meanwhile, the sectors that displayed the most growth for 2022 were ship and boat building with a 14.6% increase, coastal tourism and recreation with an 8.1% uptick and…

28 Aug

Alaska Port Facility Renovated

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsahtna, ketchikan, noaa

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Aug. 21 celebrated the renovation of a port facility in Ketchikan, Alaska, which is expected to support NOAA research vessels and the Ketchikan-homeported NOAA ship Fairweather. “Having a home base for NOAA to operate from in Alaska is integral to our science, and mission to ensure safe navigation and the growth of our blue economy,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said. “This facility incorporates the latest green technology and is climate-ready with a state-of-the art floating pier to accommodate not only Ketchikan’s tidal flux, but future sea level changes.” In April 2021, Alaska-based Ahtna…

05 Jul

Cyclone Activity Expected During Central Pacific Hurricane Season

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newscentalpacificregion, cyclones, hurricane, noaa

Mariners, take heed. NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center and it’s Climate Prediction Center are expecting “a 50% chance of above-normal tropical cyclone activity” during this year’s hurricane season in the central Pacific region. The two National Weather Service divisions also said the outlook may have a “35% chance for near-normal activity, and only a 15% chance of a below-normal hurricane season.” About four to seven tropical cyclones are predicted for the central Pacific hurricane region for the 2023 season, which runs through Nov. 30. “The last few hurricane seasons have been pretty quiet around Hawaii, luring some folks to let…

10 Jan

IMO Adopts Whale Protections, Extended West Coast Vessel Lanes

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsimo, noaa, whales

Vessels along the California coast are to begin lining up for port entry farther west and away from the continental shelf in an effort to protect endangered whales beginning this summer, NOAA announced Jan. 5. The International Maritime Organization recently adopted a proposal by the U.S. to expand the area that ships should avoid to allow more protected space for endangered blue, fin and humpback whales. The proposal is expected to go into effect after the spring. The 13-nautical-mile vessel traffic lane extension means that ships would line up for port entry farther west. It also means that the area…