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Happy spring, shipmates!
This is my first message for Shipshape in my new role as director of marine operations at NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations.
After 26 years as a NOAA employee, I know we have an experienced team, but since starting as director in December, I have been even more impressed with the people who help to keep our ships maintained, repaired, resourced, staffed, and ready to support NOAA science.
I want to recognize the crew of NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker who won a 2023 Federal Energy and Water Management Award for their successful effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions aboard NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker through developing and implementing comprehensive and collaborative energy management strategies on the ship. You can also read more below about three of our ships and crew being recognized for rescuing mariners while at sea. Bravo Zulu!
I would also like to recognize NOAA ships Nancy Foster and Okeanos Explorer, the two ships to achieve full National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System compliance in 2023, with no instances of administrative non-compliance and no spills within three nautical miles of shore.
Spring means that the field season for our vessels is ramping up and repair seasons are wrapping up. To date, 11 of our ships are on mission and/or have started their field season, two are in drydock repair periods, one is awaiting award of a repair contract, and one is in a mid-life repair period. I look forward to sharing more stories about our missions in future issues.
In the meantime, please join us online for our first NOAA Fleet Week, April 15-19. Watch for engaging content at omao.noaa.gov and on our social media channels as we showcase our fleet and the people who operate, manage, and maintain it in support of NOAA science, service, and stewardship.
Meanwhile, we’d appreciate your help in spreading the word about and subscribing to this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe by clicking here.
Best,
Capt. Jesse Stark, NOAA Corps
Director of Marine Operations
NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations
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When talking about the work done by the officers and crew of NOAA ships, we usually highlight how they support NOAA’s science missions. Their expertise in surveying the ocean floor, their dedication to facilitating data collection or their professionalism and unique skill set are often at the top of the list. One of the things that sometimes gets overlooked is their readiness to respond to other mariners or vessels who may be in danger. We’re proud to share that the crews of three NOAA vessels were recognized for their involvement in rescues at sea.
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Scientists aboard NOAA Ship Rainier wrapped up a two-year project to collect important scientific data on coral reefs and ocean conditions and to map the seafloor. In 2023, this mission focused on American Samoa and the Pacific Remote Island Area. This data collected will ultimately help to inform many local and national management efforts. Read more about the mission.
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During the 2023 field season, NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler was tasked with surveying an area offshore of Wilmington, North Carolina, in the vicinity of Frying Pan Shoals—a dynamic area of dangerously shallow waters. While scientists and crew conducted mapping surveys of the seafloor, they discovered what is believed to be well-preserved ancient remnants of a paleochannel system that could give us a glimpse of what our North Carolina coastline looked like 20,000 years ago.
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Meet the Crew
The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is one of the nation’s eight uniformed services. With approximately 330 officers and growing, the NOAA Corps supports nearly all of NOAA’s programs and missions, and are an integral part of NOAA’s marine operations. Meet some NOAA Corps officers who support marine operations:
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Our professional mariner workforce is crucial to safe and effective ship operations. Get a glimpse into the life of a NOAA mariner. Meet Chief Survey Technician Katy McGinnis, General Vessel Assistant Tasha Camel, and Able Seaman LaDeirdre Forehand. |
Heritage
On the heels of celebrating Women’s History Month in March, we wanted to share more about Cmdr. Pamela Chelgren, the first female officer in the NOAA Corps.
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Featured Photo
 In February, NOAA Corps officers from NOAA ships Reuben Lasker and Nancy Foster visited Thoma-Sea shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, to preview the construction of two new ships being built for NOAA, the Oceanographer (pictured here) and Discoverer. Upon their completion the Oceanographer will be homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the Discoverer will be homeported in Newport, Rhode Island. Maintaining an on-the-water fleet of environmental intelligence platforms requires preserving and improving the existing fleet and constructing new vessels as older ships reach the end of their service lives. Credit: Capt. Marc S. Moser, NOAA
On the Horizon
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#NOAAFleetWeek
Aligning with the tradition of Fleet Weeks in which the public can experience active military ships and aircraft, NOAA is offering virtual “behind the scenes” access to the NOAA fleet April 15 -19 through social media takeovers, web stories, videos, and more. Join us all week to learn more about the platforms and people behind NOAA’s science, service, and stewardship mission.
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Fleet Update
For a summary of NOAA ship operations during March and April, click here.
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