Modernizing the Marine Transportation System
+$13.3 Million in FY 2002
The Challenge.
Since our founding, maritime trade has been vital to the Nation's economic prosperity. Today, more than 95 percent of U.S. foreign trade moves by sea - in 1998, about 2.4 billion tons of cargo. Trade is projected to at least double by 2020. Vessels have also grown dramatically; over the last 50 years the length, width, and draft of commercial vessels has doubled, posing significant safety concerns. Ensuring safe and efficient port operations is vital to maintaining the competitiveness of the U.S. port industry and exports. Growth in ferry, cruise line, and recreational boating are contributing to increased congestion on our waterways. Nearly half of all goods in marine commerce are hazardous materials, including energy products, such as petroleum and liquid natural gas. A key to reducing risk is to invest in the national information infrastructure that supports safe and efficient movement of goods and people.
NOAA's Role.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains the Nation's suite of nautical charts, the coastal water level observation system, and the geodetic positioning reference system. NOAA charts are developed from hydrographic and shoreline surveys, tide and current measurements, geodetic positioning data, and other sources. Demonstration projects have shown that these programs can provide the accurate data needed for determining precise under-keel and overhead/ bridge clearances and support near zero visibility docking, allowing vessels to more safely navigate and efficiently move cargo in and out of our harbors. NOAA's integrated suite of navigation services is capable of increasing the efficient movement of goods while reducing the risk of marine accidents and resulting environmental damage. Economic benefits include reducing vessel fuel usage and port pollution, supporting just-in-time delivery of goods, and enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. exports.
Electronic Navigational Charts (+$3.6M)
This investment will construct additional Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), enhance existing ENCs to provide a more complete picture of the waterway, and provide for the continued maintenance of the estimated 200 completed ENCs (by the end of FY 2002). The ENC is a significant component of NOAA's integrated systems approach to the development and delivery of navigation services designed to provide the essential information required to navigate safely in and out of the Nation's ports and harbors. Supporting the ENC effort, NOAA will also continue building a quality-controlled digital bathymetric database using the most up-to-date hydrographic survey data available.
Shoreline Mapping (+$1.0M)
Accurate, current shoreline mapping is critical to safe navigation along our coasts. This investment will allow NOAA to expand efforts to update the legal shoreline, primarily through contracts with the private sector to precisely survey the Nation's ever-changing coastlines.
National Spatial Reference System (+$0.5M)
NOAA will increase the Nation's access to the Continuously Operating Reference System. This will enable highly accurate height and position measurements using the Global Positioning System for a wide range of economic pursuits, especially transportation.
Implement Forecast Models/Current Predictions (+$0.5M)
This investment will enable NOAA to obtain new current meter measurements at locations critical to the navigation community and accelerate the development of nowcast/forecast products which deliver oceanographic data to maritime users and maximize safety.
Coastal Storms (+$3.0M)
NOAA's request for $3 million will initiate efforts to dramatically reduce the loss of property and life from Coastal Storms in the pilot region of Florida's St. John's River watershed. Recent estimates for national disaster losses are between $10 and $50 billion per year, with an average cost of $50 million per event—71 percent of these events occur in coastal states or territories. NOAA's Coastal Storms proposal seeks to provide a cross-section of NOAA capabilities to MTS users, as well as coastal emergency and resource managers to: ensure the safety of the coastal population, support and enhance the coastal economy, and sustain the environmental health of coastal communities and resources.
Spill Response & Habitat Restoration (+$2.0M)
This investment will enable NOAA to develop and distribute tools and guidance to assist decision-makers when releases of contaminants occur within the Martine Transportation System and other coastal environments. These funds will also allow NOAA to more accurately gauge the effectiveness of spill response measures, leading to improved response techniques as well as better methods of restoring injured resources.
FAIRWEATHER Refurbishment ($9.5M, +$2.7M)
NOAA requests a total of $9.5M, an increase of $2.7M over FY 2001, to complete the refurbishment of the FAIRWEATHER to help reduce the hydrographic survey backlog, especially in Alaska.
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| Investment | FY 2002 Change ($ millions) |
| National Ocean Service (OR&F) | |
| Navigation Services | |
| Mapping & Charting | |
| Electronic Navigational Charts | $3.6 |
| Shoreline Mapping | $1.0 |
| Coastal Storms - shallow-water bathymetry | $1.0 |
| Geodesy | |
| National Spatial Reference System | $0.5 |
| Tides & Currents | |
| Coastal Storms - enhanced water level observations | $1.0 |
| Implement Forecast Models/Currents | $0.5 |
| Ocean Resources Conservation & Assessment | |
| Ocean Assessment Program | |
| Coastal Storms - monitoring, outreach, education | $1.0 |
| Response & Restoration | |
| Spill Response & Habitat Restoration | $2.0 |
| Office of Marine & Aviation Operations (OMAO) | |
| Fleet Replacement | |
| NOAA Vessel FAIRWEATHER Refurbishment | $2.7 |
| Total Change from FY 2001 | $13.3 |