November 28, 2018
Hello Coast Survey,
It’s that time of year again! As many of you are aware, we are in the midst of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season. If you are new to CFC, it is a fantastic way to support something you care deeply about. What is your cause? Whether it’s children in need, international organizations, animals, or the environment, this annual federal program highlights those that are critically dependent on our donations. This year, the campaign runs until January 19, 2019. Please consider participating.
Thank you to Teresa Fleisher of the Coast Survey Development Lab for volunteering as both the Coast Survey and National Ocean Service CFC coordinator. You can reach out to Teresa if you have any questions.
Rear Admiral Shepard M. Smith
Director, Office of Coast Survey
NOAA makes it easier to submit a comment or report a nautical chart error
Coast Survey recently released ASSIST, a new system for submitting questions and reporting nautical chart errors. ASSIST has a mobile-friendly design and improved user interface that allows customers to access the system conveniently from any device. This new tool replaces Coast Survey’s Inquiry and Discrepancy Management System (IDMS), a database that collected nearly 20,000 comments, inquiries, and discrepancy reports since 2008. ASSIST offers new features including the ability to tag your submission on a NOAA chart, map, or satellite imagery, enter reports from a cell phone or other mobile device, and comment or report an error using a single form. For more information contact Patrick.Keown@noaa.gov.
NOAA supports Coast Guard and Marine Corps resume training following Hurricane Florence
The United States Marine Corp’s Camp Lejeune suffered infrastructure and waterway damage after Hurricane Florence. Camp Lejeune is home to the Second Marine Division, multiple training commands, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Special Missions Training Center. The training center submitted a request to Coast Survey in late October to investigate their training area for hazards to navigation. The team, including Lt. j.g. Debroisse (junior office in charge of Bay Hydro II), Robb Mowery (Bay Hydro II), Alex Ligon (navigation response team (NRT)-Stennis), Josh Bergeron (NRT-Stennis), and Lt. j.g. Dylan Kosten (NRT-New London), used the mobile integrated survey team (MIST) equipment and surveyed from Coast Guard training vessels. This survey will not only serve to increase Marine Corps and Coast Guard’s confidence to conduct training in these areas, but also update the nautical charts for military assets and local fishermen using these waters. For more information contact Patrick.Debroisse@noaa.gov.
NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler surveys SS Oregon while National Geographic documents the effort
On November 11, the NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler surveyed the wreck site of the SS Oregon, a 521-foot British passenger liner that collided with a schooner and sank in 1886. The triple expansion boilers and steam engine are shown in the dense point cloud of high-resolution multibeam echo sounder data. These data were collected at the request of Coast Survey as an opportunistic survey conducted during Hassler’s transit to home port, and will be featured in an upcoming National Geographic television series. In a rare opportunity for the Hassler, the ship sailed with a videographer who documented the exciting moment when the ship passed over the bow for the first time with modern multibeam technology. For more information contact co.ferdinand.hassler@noaa.gov.
Coast Survey attends first job fair at San Jacinto College Maritime
On November 13, Erin Diurba, acting western Gulf coast navigation manager, and Wess Rowland, navigation response team member station in Galveston, Texas, hosted a NOAA both at the first San Jacinto College Maritime Job Fair. NOAA set up alongside 24 other companies to distribute information on scholarships, fellowships, job openings, and the NOAA Corps. For more information contact Erin.Diurba@noaa.gov.
Staff Updates
Navigation Response Division's Customer Affairs Branch is happy to welcome aboard Lt. Anthony Klemm, Louis Licate and Colleen Roche as our newest navigation managers.
Anthony is returning to Coast Survey from his last tour on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. He will represent the mid-Atlantic region and will be stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to his two tours on the Thomas Jefferson, Anthony has been active in several domestic and international teams involved in ushering in the future of maritime navigation and nautical cartography.
Lou is coming to Coast Survey from the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). He will represent the South Florida, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands region and will be stationed in Miami, Florida. Lou has served in the National Ocean Service since 2013 planning hydrographic surveys, analyzing real-time oceanographic data, and developing new tools for the maritime community. He holds MS degrees in physics and oceanography from Creighton University and the University of Rhode Island, respectively.
Colleen is also coming to Coast Survey from CO-OPS. She will represent the northeast region and will be stationed in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Colleen comes to Coast Survey after working for NOAA for seven years. Prior to NOAA, she worked as a coastal engineer for eight years supporting port design and expansion, environmental remediation and beach renourishment efforts. She looks forward to serving as the liaison between NOAA and community.
As mentioned in our last newsletter, Alan Bunn, our western Gulf coast navigation manager, recently retired. At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District Annual Dredging Meeting on November 8, Alan was honored with a certificate of appreciation from the Army Corps and a public service commendation from the Coast Guard. Alan also received a coin for service to the city of Galveston.
Navigation Response Division's Customer Affairs Branch is happy to welcome aboard Lt. Anthony Klemm, Louis Licate and Colleen Roche as our newest navigation managers.
Anthony is returning to Coast Survey from his last tour on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. He will represent the mid-Atlantic region and will be stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to his two tours on the Thomas Jefferson, Anthony has been active in several domestic and international teams involved in ushering in the future of maritime navigation and nautical cartography.
Lou is coming to Coast Survey from the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). He will represent the South Florida, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands region and will be stationed in Miami, Florida. Lou has served in the National Ocean Service since 2013 planning hydrographic surveys, analyzing real-time oceanographic data, and developing new tools for the maritime community. He holds MS degrees in physics and oceanography from Creighton University and the University of Rhode Island, respectively.
Colleen is also coming to Coast Survey from CO-OPS. She will represent the northeast region and will be stationed in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Colleen comes to Coast Survey after working for NOAA for seven years. Prior to NOAA, she worked as a coastal engineer for eight years supporting port design and expansion, environmental remediation and beach renourishment efforts. She looks forward to serving as the liaison between NOAA and community.
did you know?
Rear Adm. Shep Smith, director of Coast Survey, presented "America's Seven Coasts" at the October 31, 2018, weekly colloquium hosted by the University of California Berkeley's Geography Department. A video of the presenation is available online.
coming up
11/30 - DEADLINE to submit an abstract to present a paper or poster at U.S. Hydro 2019 Conference
11/26-12/1 - The 19th meeting of the Meso American - Caribbean Sea Hydrographic Commission in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
12/3 - National Ocean Service all hands meeting awards ceremony at 1 p.m.
