Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

The Delaware River and Bay PORTS^® was established at the request of commercial maritime interests to improve navigation safety and enhance efficient maritime commerce in the region. This PORTS^® is a continuing partnership between the Maritime Exchange of the Delaware River and Bay, the Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA. The Delaware River and Bay PORTS^® provides real-time observations from 11 water level stations, 4 current meters, 8 meteorological stations, and 4 conductivity (salinity) stations covering the area from as far upriver as Newbold, to the mouth of the Bay at Lewes and Cape May. Each location was selected by the maritime users as necessary to meet their needs. NOAA provides a 24x7 fully staffed program to control and assure the accuracy of the observations, to identify problems, and to prevent posting of inaccurate observations. Funding for the major portion of the installation and the ongoing operation and maintenance of the system has been provided by the Maritime Exchange, with the Corps of Engineers providing funding for the installation and maintenance of the water level and meteorological station at Ship John Shoal Light, and for the 4 salinity stations.

Go Back to reading the DBPORTS HomePage

Revised: January 2, 2003