Physical 

Oceanographic 

Real-Time System 

(PORTS®)

www.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports

a day and have the ability to stop dissemination of any 

data which do not meet QC standards. CO-OPS also 

ensures quality by overseeing the design, installation, 

and maintenance of PORTS® instrumentation and 

communication systems. PORTS® observations are 

updated at 6-minute intervals and are available via the 

internet (www.tidesandcurrents.gov/ports) and tollfree phone calls. 

The future holds many challenges for the US maritime 

transportation system. The total volume of domestic and 

international marine trade is expected to triple over the 

next 20 years. In that same time frame, commercial and 

recreational users are expected to grow by over 65%. The 

high quality, reliable information provided by PORTS® will 

support safe navigation and help port managers balance 

environmental and economic priorities as maritime 

activity increases. 

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products 

and Services (CO-OPS)

Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®)

ports@noaa.gov

(301) 713-2981

CO-OPS is a center of expertise whose mission is the collection, 

analysis, and dissemination of integrated oceanographic 

information to protect life, property, and the environment. 

Typically located in estuaries, most ports are 

home to diverse forms of marine life, which also 

makes them attractive venues for 70% of US 

commercial and recreational fishing. PORTS® 

helps boaters and fishermen plan voyages and 

avoid dangerous weather conditions. 

PORTS® information is used by a broad group of 

commercial, recreational, and governmental organizations, as well as by individuals. Among its major user 

communities PORTS® has proven to deliver benefits 

that include:

 Safer shipping and boating

 Fewer groundings and collisions

 More accurate marine weather forecasts

 Improved response to distress calls

 More efficient port operations 

 Optimized cargo loading

 Increased throughput with fewer delays 

 Improved environmental planning and protection

 More effective response to hazardous spills

 Better information for coastal management 

Studies in three different ports have shown over 

a 50% decrease in groundings following the 

installation of a PORTS®.
T he US marine transportation system consists 

of over 25,000 miles of waterways, ports, 

and other navigable waters, as well as over 

3,700 marine terminals, and is the backbone 

for the movement of goods, services, and people throughout the nation and abroad. In fact, over the last decade, 

fueled by a rapidly growing global economy, more than 

95% of all US trade has involved some form of maritime 

transportation. Recent estimates suggest that maritime 

commerce contributes in excess of $742 billion annually 

to the US Gross Domestic Product and sustains over 

13 million jobs. 

Like any infrastructure system, the nation’s network of 

waterways and ports faces the challenge of keeping up 

with growth, with the greatest challenges being safety 

and security. Not surprisingly, the rapidly increasing pace 

and volume of maritime commerce also corresponds to 

greater potential for accidents. With over 3,500 ships 

annually involved in accidents on the nation’s waterways, 

and hundreds of groundings and collisions in the nation’s 

major ports, developing a safe and efficient maritime 

transportation infrastructure is essential to the nation’s 

economy and key to its ability to compete successfully in 

the expanding global economy.

Guided by the mission of promoting safe and efficient 

navigation in US waters, the Center for Operational 

Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), part of 

NOAA’s National Ocean Service, developed the Physical 

Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®). PORTS® 

integrates and delivers environmental observations in 

real-time and through nowcasts and near-term forecasts 

to users in many of the nation’s major ports. Using PORTS® 

information in conjunction with NOAA Nautical Charts 

and US Coast Guard (USCG) Navigational Aids has proven 

to reduce groundings. PORTS® data will be integrated 

with other operational data disseminated via the USCG 

Automated Identification System (AIS). 

“The greatest safety concern...is the availability of 

timely, accurate, and reliable navigation information” 

- 1999 Assessment of the U.S. Marine 

Transportation System- Report to Congress

Our nation’s ports have historically been centers of rapid 

industrial growth and prosperity. In fact, the nation’s top 

ten ports handle 95% of all container shipping, providing 

over $70 billion in income and over 3 million jobs. PORTS® 

information helps maximize cargo load while minimizing 

risks associated with groundings and collisions. 

One major oil spill can cost millions of dollars and destroy 

fragile coastal ecosystems. PORTS® gives ship pilots realtime, accurate information to help them navigate crowded 

waterways and avoid accidents. When an accident does 

occur, PORTS® information is critical for rapid response 

and damage mitigation.

Tailored to the specific needs of the local community, 

PORTS® measures, integrates, and disseminates observations of water levels, currents, salinity, wind, and bridge 

clearance, all of which help mariners successfully guide 

ships into and out of the nation’s ports. In several locations 

PORTS® also provides forecast model guidance which 

supports informed decision making in advance of transit 

scheduling and loading operations.

Increased port traffic and larger vessels demand 

continuous quality control (QC) of PORTS® data. 

CO-OPS personnel monitor PORTS® operations 24 hours