WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:06.239 --> 00:00:09.909 [PAUL TASH] The most dreadful rainstorm rolled in early in the morning. 00:00:10.043 --> 00:00:13.246 There's a report that a ship has hit the skyway 00:00:13.646 --> 00:00:15.382 and there are cars in the water 00:00:15.382 --> 00:00:16.883 [MARK LUTHER] an inbound freighter 00:00:17.050 --> 00:00:22.022 is overtaken by an intense early summer, late spring squall line 00:00:22.389 --> 00:00:24.524 collided with one of the main bridge supports 00:00:24.524 --> 00:00:27.193 and the southbound span of the bridge collapsed. 00:00:27.494 --> 00:00:29.596 [DEBORAH BLUM] As I started approaching the tollbooth, 00:00:30.597 --> 00:00:32.499 I could see they were turning cars away, 00:00:32.499 --> 00:00:34.000 and that's when I realized something 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:35.201 very bad had happened. 00:00:35.435 --> 00:00:36.636 [PAUL TASH] Thirty five people died. 00:00:37.537 --> 00:00:40.507 Twenty four of them were on a Greyhound bus and 11 others. 00:00:41.307 --> 00:00:43.309 And again, we all knew that 00:00:43.309 --> 00:00:46.346 it might have been any one of us on the bridge that day. 00:00:52.285 --> 00:00:53.920 [CHRIS DIVEGLIO] The incident in Tampa Bay 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:57.257 inspired the creation of the NOAA Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System 00:00:57.524 --> 00:00:59.559 since its inception in 1991 00:00:59.592 --> 00:01:02.929 The PORTS program has grown to more than 35 operational systems. 00:01:03.329 --> 00:01:05.698 Ports is a publicly available navigation tool 00:01:05.698 --> 00:01:07.300 around various U.S. seaports. 00:01:08.034 --> 00:01:12.772 [NICOLE LEBOEUF] NOAA's PORTS Program provides essential decision support in real time, 00:01:13.039 --> 00:01:16.643 as well as for future planning in a changing world. 00:01:17.110 --> 00:01:19.979 [DAVE BERAULT] I'm one of 14 pilots in Mobile, Alabama, 00:01:20.647 --> 00:01:23.683 all who use ports data on a daily basis. 00:01:23.750 --> 00:01:26.119 [BETH CHRISTMAN] It's invaluable because we know that 00:01:26.453 --> 00:01:27.720 ships are getting bigger. 00:01:27.754 --> 00:01:29.222 Bridges are not getting higher. 00:01:29.222 --> 00:01:31.257 Channels are not getting deeper and wider. 00:01:31.858 --> 00:01:35.228 And if we're going to be able to service the Port of Baltimore 00:01:35.228 --> 00:01:36.863 with some of these larger vessels, 00:01:37.597 --> 00:01:42.836 then we need to be able to have this information at our fingertips. 00:01:43.103 --> 00:01:44.504 [CAROLYN KURTZ] During a typical workday, 00:01:45.238 --> 00:01:48.174 I look at ports even before I get on the water. 00:01:48.575 --> 00:01:50.110 As soon as they get called for a job, 00:01:50.143 --> 00:01:52.212 I go to the screen 00:01:52.212 --> 00:01:54.981 and I look for the wind, sea state, and visibility 00:01:54.981 --> 00:01:56.216 so that I have a good idea 00:01:56.216 --> 00:01:58.551 of what the weather's doing before I ever get on the ship. 00:01:59.018 --> 00:02:01.955 [BRIAN MILLER] Many of our challenges are actually seasonal. 00:02:02.222 --> 00:02:04.624 So in spring and fall, we get heavy fog, 00:02:05.125 --> 00:02:07.760 which the PORTS system helps the pilots navigate through. 00:02:08.328 --> 00:02:10.263 Also, we get heavy winds during the winter. 00:02:10.263 --> 00:02:11.865 So that also helps them with the winds 00:02:11.865 --> 00:02:13.099 and the currents that are affected 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:15.068 by those weather weather systems. 00:02:15.602 --> 00:02:18.972 [DONNA SCHANTZ] Information on surface currents, including strength and direction, 00:02:18.972 --> 00:02:21.774 can be of great value in the safe docking 00:02:21.774 --> 00:02:24.677 and undocking of the crude oil tankers 00:02:24.677 --> 00:02:26.880 at the Valdez Marine Terminal in Alaska. 00:02:27.247 --> 00:02:33.953 [STEVEN GIBSON] We're able to not only react to the currents in the channel, 00:02:34.053 --> 00:02:38.591 but be proactive in setting up for crosscurrents, 00:02:39.425 --> 00:02:40.760 flood or ebb tides 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:45.298 [STUART GRIFFIN] PORTS enables us to ensure safe passage of vessels, 00:02:46.065 --> 00:02:48.668 specifically things like under keel clearance, 00:02:49.202 --> 00:02:51.271 as well as air gap 00:02:51.271 --> 00:02:56.543 or the clearance of a vessel's antennas and mast under a bridge safely. 00:02:56.576 --> 00:02:57.877 [JESSE PULLIN] The port sensor is important 00:02:57.877 --> 00:03:00.246 because it takes into account the sagging of the bridgespan 00:03:00.246 --> 00:03:02.382 due to heat and traffic load, 00:03:02.782 --> 00:03:04.150 which can result in a reduction 00:03:04.150 --> 00:03:05.385 of clearance by several feet. 00:03:05.652 --> 00:03:10.924 [BETH CHRISTMAN] Air draft 181 on the ship, air gap 186 00:03:12.292 --> 00:03:14.060 On the NOAA PORTS data. 00:03:16.396 --> 00:03:19.832 [JOHN E. CAMERON] PORTS allows us to handle the largest container ships trading in the U.S., 00:03:20.166 --> 00:03:22.368 at both optimal safety and efficiency. 00:03:23.102 --> 00:03:26.539 So having the historical data helped us plan the operation 00:03:26.539 --> 00:03:29.175 and having the real time data gave us assurance 00:03:29.175 --> 00:03:31.211 that we had the clearance that we had planned for. 00:03:31.444 --> 00:03:33.379 [JOHN TIMMEL] We've protected the environment 00:03:34.347 --> 00:03:36.015 while at the same time 00:03:36.015 --> 00:03:39.953 increasing the profitability of the ports of Tampa Bay. 00:03:40.453 --> 00:03:45.692 [JENA KENT] PORTS provides a holistic view of the marine conditions and high traffic areas. 00:03:45.992 --> 00:03:49.929 Where the difference as small as a couple of feet are of great concern. 00:03:50.363 --> 00:03:52.432 [TERRY GILBREATH] Our main shipping channel is 45 feet deep 00:03:52.432 --> 00:03:55.368 and we sail vessels with 45 foot draft frequently. 00:03:55.935 --> 00:03:59.372 We used the operational forecast many times in the last month 00:03:59.372 --> 00:04:01.908 to set sailing priorities during these low water events. 00:04:02.575 --> 00:04:06.679 [TIM OSBORN] This is really one of the testaments as to the value and the importance 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:10.350 of real time operational systems 00:04:10.683 --> 00:04:12.552 which allows a ship like this. 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:15.989 With maybe one or two feet of under keel clearance 00:04:16.155 --> 00:04:17.423 to be able to transit up, 00:04:18.258 --> 00:04:21.494 and then to go ahead and go to overseas markets. 00:04:21.794 --> 00:04:24.397 [FRED MYER] The system's validated the partnership of the federal government, 00:04:24.397 --> 00:04:26.032 the pilots and the ports 00:04:26.032 --> 00:04:28.534 in developing navigation on the Columbia River 00:04:28.534 --> 00:04:29.736 [NICOLE LEBOEUF] To enable PORTS 00:04:29.736 --> 00:04:32.438 We rely on strong and valuable partnerships 00:04:32.672 --> 00:04:35.575 with other federal agencies and state agencies, 00:04:35.842 --> 00:04:38.278 as well as the private sector and academic 00:04:38.278 --> 00:04:40.413 and nonprofit partners and stakeholders 00:04:40.713 --> 00:04:42.415 to deliver valuable information 00:04:42.415 --> 00:04:44.651 into the hands of those who need it most. 00:04:45.118 --> 00:04:47.520 [DARREN WRIGHT] I would get an email or a phone call 00:04:47.987 --> 00:04:50.023 or a pilot would pull me aside 00:04:50.023 --> 00:04:51.758 at a conference or a meeting 00:04:51.758 --> 00:04:54.227 and say how PORTS data helped him 00:04:54.227 --> 00:04:55.662 avoid a grounding 00:04:55.762 --> 00:04:58.564 [JEFF ORROCK] Accurate water level observations are critical for us, 00:04:58.598 --> 00:05:00.266 especially when we're getting into times 00:05:00.466 --> 00:05:03.069 of predicting how high the water is going to go 00:05:03.202 --> 00:05:05.705 and providing those coastal flood warnings 00:05:05.705 --> 00:05:08.107 with enough lead time so that folks can prepare. 00:05:08.207 --> 00:05:13.579 [STUART GRIFFIN] There's really no substitute for live data from the PORTS program 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:19.018 that either confirms or disproves your calculations 00:05:19.252 --> 00:05:21.854 when making transit planning decisions. 00:05:22.288 --> 00:05:26.025 [FRED MYER] Congratulations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 00:05:26.025 --> 00:05:28.594 for operating and maintaining the PORTS system 00:05:28.594 --> 00:05:32.799 with outstanding data reliability for 30 years 00:05:32.799 --> 00:05:36.035 [JUAN KURYLA] On behalf of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the entire board 00:05:36.035 --> 00:05:38.705 of county commissioners, the port family, 00:05:38.738 --> 00:05:42.408 we want to wish NOAA PORTS a happy 30th anniversary. 00:05:42.542 --> 00:05:45.011 [LYNN KORWATCH] We are delighted to be able to celebrate many years 00:05:45.278 --> 00:05:47.680 of getting real-time information that provides value 00:05:48.047 --> 00:05:50.283 to all of the users in our region. 00:05:50.283 --> 00:05:52.452 [DAVE BERAULT] Thanks for allowing us to participate 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.253 in the 30th anniversary 00:05:54.721 --> 00:05:55.822 of the ports program 00:05:55.822 --> 00:05:58.057 by sharing a few observations 00:05:58.057 --> 00:05:59.692 about our use of ports.