Tidal current predictions: Helping ships navigate safely in U.S. coastal waters

摘要

Knowledge of the speed and direction of the tidal current is important for maneuvering ships through tight channels, or coming into port at the correct stage of tide to dock without damaging the ship and/or pier. Search and rescue operations use tidal current predictions and real-time current information to determine where a missing target may travel. In addition, HAZMAT personnel use currents information to track and predict oil spill hazards. Fishermen use tidal current information to determine optimal fishing conditions. The NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) is responsible for updating and maintaining the U.S. Tide and Tidal Current Tables. Its National Current Observation Program (NCOP) is responsible for determining locations and priorities for updating and adding or deleting tidal current entries into the tables and the Coastal and Estuarine Circulation Analysis Team (CECAT) works with NCOP to process and analyze the data. The final predictions are calculated and published by the User Services Team within CO-OPS. Since the mid-1840s NOAA and its predecessors have been collecting and analyzing tidal current data to provide the maritime community with predictions on current speed and direction to enhance safer and more efficient maritime transportation. Over the last 150 years, the technology has changed significantly, but the concepts remain the same.