The Economics and Social Benefits

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The U.S. transportation system is the interconnection of our railways, highways, aviation and marine transportation, which supports our Nation's economy. A key component of the U.S. transportation system is the Marine Transportation System (MTS), which is the network of navigable waterways, ports, and the hubs that link to rail, air, road, and pipeline systems. It is the world's most extensive system for moving cargo and people safely and reliably. It gives American businesses competitive access to suppliers and markets worldwide, making the U.S. the world's leading maritime trading nation.

NOAA is responsible for providing real-time information products, tools, and services for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound navigation (e.g. PORTS, weather forecasts, climate data). The need for these products is great and rapidly increasing, as maritime commerce has tripled in the last 50 years and continues to grow. Ships are getting larger, drawing more water and pushing channel depth limits to derive benefits from every last inch of draft. A major challenge facing the nation is to improve the economic efficiency and competitiveness of U.S. maritime commerce, while reducing risks to life, property, and the coastal environment, in the face of extreme events. With increased marine commerce comes increased risks to the coastal environment, making marine navigation safety a serious national concern (e.g. hazardous spills, marine debris, hydrographic surveying).

The information in this goal is organized into three categories:

• Data Users
• Extreme Events
• Observing Systems

NOAA Commerce & Transportation Goal Performance Objectives:

• Enhance navigational safety and efficiency by improving information products and services
• Realize national economic, safety, and environmental benefits of improved, accurate positioning capabilities
• Reduce weather-related transportation crashes and delays
• Reduce human risk, environmental, and economic consequences resulting from natural or human-induced emergencies
• Increase total government procurements from NOAA-licensed commercial firms operating remote sensing systems