1. Virginia: Norfolk Area Ports Visited Peter Gibino August 2014

2. Most Visited Ports Newport News Marine Terminal (NNMT) AP Moeller Terminal (APM) Norfolk International Terminals (NIT)

3. Major Ports of VA

4. Aerial Locations

5. Unique Issues and Challenges Terminal Safety Units (Trucks and Vans) – Escorts to and from ships. – Too time consuming, not practical. - Cumbersome process of calling/waiting.

6. Unique Issues and Challenges cont. Had to convince security to permit my government vehicle access to the terminal in order to visit ships. NIT Parking conditions are the worse. – Authorized parking locations are near the sides of rail crane legs. – Very busy with straddle carriers – Keys must be left in the vehicle

7. Unique Issues and Challenges cont. APM Terminal: Had to attend 1 hour safety course to drive on terminal and receive badge. Automated gate badge scanning. Have to leave keys in vehicle. Specific parking locations aft of ships.

8. Unique Issues and Challenges cont. Private Terminals and Shipyards – Require advanced security clearance prior to entering. – Water taxi may be required to visit anchored ship.

9. Unique Issues and Challenges cont. – Crew Changes Crew changes every 4-6 months. Pass down of information is not always adequate. One crew may take reporting observations more seriously than another crew.

10. Success and Endeavors Assisted USCG School of Quartermasters with supplies to train Quartermasters in taking weather observations. Assisted School of Navigation in proof-reading material to obtain sea level pressure. Assisted forecast office Wakefield, VA in gathering weather observations on Chesapeake Bay.

11. Chesapeake Bay Forecast Area

12. Chesapeake Bay Observations Worked with two tugboat companies to take observations in Chesapeake Bay while they were transiting to Baltimore. One stopped taking observations, while the other continues.

13. Chesapeake Bay Endeavors Flyers were made and distributed to local boating communities concerning reporting weather conditions. Information given from NWS Wakefield Office on how to report weather observations. The most consistent form of observations comes from the weather buoys placed within the Chesapeake Bay. Weather Buoys placed in the bay are the most consistent sources for gathering weather data.

14. Future of VOS Digital equipment for ships. Ship visits needed for barometer calibrations, survey the quality of meteorological equipment. -- Collect metadata necessary to complete the database of each ship in the program.

15. Future VOS Cont. Automated reporting systems. Challenges: Must be economically feasible Capability of reporting all weather elements -- -- Some elements may be eliminated (ex: clouds and sea states)

16. Future of VOS Cont. Continue working with shipping agents and companies. -- Necessary for ship schedules and future information on status of ships. (Ex: Ship being scrapped or change in routing)