NOAA Invests $95M in Mid-Life Vessel Renovation
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $95 million contract to JAG Alaska, Inc., a shipyard based in Alaska, for a mid-life renovation of the Oscar Dyson. This project not only enhances NOAA’s operational readiness but also boosts Alaska’s economy by creating skilled jobs.A highlight of the upgrade is Siemens Energy’s SISHIP BlueDrive PlusC low-voltage direct current (LVDC) propulsion system, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. The system minimizes specific fuel consumption (g/kWh) during operations, aligning with NOAA’s
Underwater Autonomous Glider Departs to Circumnavigate the Globe
. From here there will be possible stops in Brazil and the Caribbean before heading back to Cape Cod in the U.S.Transmitting information via satellite when it surfaces every 8-12 hours, Redwing will share vital data on ocean temperature, salinity, currents, and ocean health via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) global monitoring system. This will ensure that scientists, oceanographers, meteorologists, universities, and even schools worldwide will be able to access real-time results internationally, building interest in the mission.The Sentinel Redwing is a new class
Jellyfish Swarm Shutters French Nuke Plant
to warming waters and the introduction of invasive species."Jellyfish breed faster when water is warmer, and because areas like the North Sea are becoming warmer, the reproductive window is getting wider and wider," said Derek Wright, marine biology consultant with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."Jellyfish can also hitch rides on tanker ships, entering the ships' ballast tank in one port and often getting pumped out into waters halfway across the globe," he said.An invasive species known as the Asian Moon jellyfish, native to the Pacific Northwest, was
Shipwreck Windfall: ROV Expedition Captures Maritime History
last delivery in before the lake freezes up. A big storm will come through and sure enough, it’ll sink vessels.”Jason Fahy and Holly Pettus. Credit: Marley ParkerThe shipwrecks served as a founding reason for the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2024. The organization’s website states, “As the gateway between the Great Lakes and the ocean, the maritime landscape of this area represents connections between cultures, between a nascent nation and the frontier, and of commerce, opportunity and ingenuity
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Welcomes Admiral Tim Gallaudet As New Trustee
Consulting, Adm. Gallaudet serves as a strategic advisor for a variety of technology startups, research institutions, and philanthropies. He is the former acting Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Assistant Secretary of Commerce and acting and Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Under his leadership, Gallaudet steered the agency, managing national marine sanctuaries and coastal waterways, fisheries, weather satellites, weather services, and environmental research. He oversaw the agency’s Blue Economy strategies and activities to advance
New AUV Helps Document Critical Minerals
at water depths up to 11,000 meters (6.8 miles).Operationalizing the technology for the first time was part of a mission led by the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), based at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).As part of a larger expedition to expand knowledge of the seafloor, the OECI partnered with Orpheus Ocean to field-test their new AUV east of the Mariana Trench. The AUV successfully completed
Drones Reveal Extreme Coral Mortality After Bleaching
mortality rates of 92% after last year’s bleaching event at Lizard Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, marking one of the highest coral mortality rates ever documented globally.The team assessed the impact of the Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event, declared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in April 2024, which caused extensive bleaching and mortality across the reef system.Their findings, published in Coral Reefs, used high-resolution drone imagery to map coral bleaching in March 2024, returning in June to assess survival and mortality rates across the same
Trump to Wind Down FEMA After Hurricane Season
Homeland Security."In an apparent reference to his plans to wind down the disaster-relief agency, Trump added: "I'd say after the hurricane season we'll start phasing it out."The U.S. hurricane season officially began on June 1 and lasts through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast last month that this year's season would be above normal with as many as 10 hurricanes.Trump's comments were among the most direct to date indicating his intention to significantly downsize if not outright eliminate FEMA, which has an annual budget of around
NOAA 'Fully Staffed' with Forecasters, Scientists
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Senate hearing that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is "fully staffed" with weather forecasters and scientists after concerns were raised about some offices losing 24-hour staffing ahead of hurricane season."We are fully staffed with forecasters and scientists. Under no circumstances am I going to let public safety or public forecasting be touched," Lutnick told a Senate appropriations subcommittee overseeing NOAA, saying he got the National Weather Service (NWS) exempted from a federal hiring freeze.NOAA
August 2025
