About NOS: NOAA Commerce and Transportation Goal

To protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.

This page summarizes NOS activities within the NOAA programs that directly support the Commerce and Transportation Mission Goal.

Emergency Response Program | Geodesy Program | Marine Transportation Systems Program

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Emergency Response Program

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, NOS responded to numerous oil and hazardous chemical spills in the Gulf region.

Each year, more than two billion tons of freight move along our nation’s marine transportation system.  NOAA works to meet challenges such as ever-larger vessels, hazardous cargoes and materials, aging landside infrastructure, oil and chemical spills, and threats to national security, that are posed as the nation’s expansive marine transportation system works to accommodate an ever-growing population and economy.  The role of NOAA’s Emergency Response Program is to minimize societal and environmental costs incurred when efforts to prevent marine transportation accidents fail.

In support of the NOAA Emergency Response Program, the NOS Office of Response and Restoration works with partners to forecast the movement of spilled oil and chemicals, evaluate risks to natural and public resources, and determine response and cleanup options. The program also works with planners and responders to develop response plans, ensure working knowledge of response tools, and provide a better understanding of all aspects of incident response. NOS also supports emergency response by improving the tools and technology available to protect and aid recovery of coastal environments and communities from spills and other hazards.

 

Geodesy Program

Geodesy is the science of determining the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points upon its surface. Through the National Geodetic Survey, NOS executes NOAA’s Geodesy Program to provide the national framework for precision positioning data needed for transportation, navigation, and communication systems. NOS manages the National Spatial Reference System, which is a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States and provides the federal standard and foundation for all positioning and navigation activities. NOS also supports assessment tools, such as the Airport Survey Program for aviation managers and the Shallow Water Positioning System (SWaPS) for coastal resource managers, and is active in geoscience research focusing on Earth orientation, absolute gravity, satellite geodesy, and related fields.

NOS efforts within the Geodesy Program support mapping, navigation, property delineation, infrastructure development, natural resource evaluation, and technology development. These efforts are geared towards providing safe, efficient, and environmentally sound commerce and transportation.

 

Marine Transportation Systems Program

A real-time system of water levels, currents, and other oceanographic and meteorological data is available in 14 major U.S. ports to help avoid ship groundings and collisions.

The U.S. marine transportation system is the world’s most extensive system of navigable waterways, ports, and harbors for moving cargo and people safely and reliably. To help reduce risk of maritime accidents, increase the efficiency of maritime commerce, and support homeland security, NOS provides information, tools, and services within NOAA’s Marine Transportation Systems Program. For example, NOS offices such as the Office of Coast Survey, supply electronic navigation charts, coast pilots, and navigation response teams to meet the increasing challenges associated with marine navigation. NOS provides historical and real-time observations and predictions of water levels, coastal currents, and other meteorological and oceanographic data. NOS also supports research and development of new technologies and products to improve navigation safety and environmental sustainability of the marine transportation system.

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