On April 3, 2018, several NOAA leaders joined me and local officials at PortMiami to dedicate a new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) comprised of three offshore buoy-mounted current meters that will enhance navigation safety for the Miami seaport. Attending were Acting NOAA Administrator RDML (ret.) Tim Gallaudet, PhD, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction Neil Jacobs, PhD, NOAA Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin Wheeler, NOAA Communications Director Julie Roberts, and NOS Assistant Administrator Russell Callender, PhD, along with about 80 other guests and media. We also had congressional representation from the offices of U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, and U.S. Representatives Frederica Wilson, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. 

PORTS® is a successful public-private partnership that reduces ship accidents by more than 50 percent, increases the amount of cargo that ships can carry, reduces transit delays for commercial traffic, enhances recreational activities, and improves hazardous spill response.

In Miami, ship pilots face strong currents from the Gulf Stream as they enter the channel. The new PORTS provides pilots with critical real-time information that they need to make navigation decisions, using a new technology configuration that makes the meters more reliable, more cost-efficient, and extends their range offshore. The information is especially important as cargo ships and cruise ships become larger and carry more goods and people. 

RDML Gallaudet dedicated the system on NOAA’s behalf. With a banner backdrop showing a cargo ship moving into the port, he spoke about the importance of PORTS in keeping ships, people, and cargo safe, as well as boosting the nation’s shipping economy. We presented a plaque to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez and demonstrated for attendees how a current meter works.

With the addition of PortMiami,the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services now operates 31 PORTS® across the nation, which support 85 percent of the nation’s cargo by tonnage. I am incredibly proud of the entire CO-OPS staff. Their hard work and dedication are what make this important program a success.

Rich Edwing
Director, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services