1. MARINE OPERATIONS
Island communities are reliant on the ocean as the primary pathway for the transport of food,
fuel, manufactured goods, and raw materials to, from and between the islands. In the Pacific,
the ocean is our inter- and intra-state highway and railway system. Nearly all goods consumed
in the region are imported by sea, with all such items flowing through at least one of only a
handful of key ports in a hub-and-spur distribution system on the way to their final destination.
In addition to ships designed for bulk transport, island waterways are used by the military,
commercial fleets, and recreational fishing vessels, paddlers, pleasure craft operators
(commercial and private), and are the home to offshore energy and aquaculture ventures.
The efficiency of maritime commerce, utilization and conservation of natural resources, public
safety, and homeland security depend on an accurate understanding of coastal and open ocean
dynamics. The vast ocean areas that surround and separate islands in the Pacific pose great
challenges for the collection of data at suitable spatial scales for decision-making—underscoring
the necessity of advanced, accurate, and resolute numerical models that cover appropriate
spatial and temporal scales. For this planning period, PacIOOS will focus on the collection and
provision of wind, wave, current, and water level data and the assimilation of that data into
existing operational and experimental numerical modeling suites.
Strategic Partners and Target Customers
Hawaii Harbors Users Group, Port Users Group of Guam, State and Territorial Departments of
Transportation and Port Authorities, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy,
NOAA—National Weather Service, State and Territorial Departments of Energy, commercial
fishing, shipping, transportation, high-tech, and offshore energy industry members, recreational
boaters.
Issue 1.1 Safe and efficient commercial shipping and recreational
boating.
PRODUCT AND SERVICES:
1.1.1 OFFSHORE WEATHER, SEA STATE CONDITIONS AND FORECASTS FOR COMMERICAL AND
RECREATIONAL MARINERS
1.1.2 CHANNEL AND HARBOR CONDITIONS
1.1.3 OPTIMUM TRACK SHIP ROUTING FOR INTERISLAND COMMERCE AND RECREATION
1.1.4 VESSEL LOCATIONS SENT TO COAST GUARD’S NATIONAL AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM
(NAIS) AND MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH PACIOOS WEB PORTAL
INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS:
Observed wave period, direction, and height proximate to population centers, harbors, and
critical port facilities every ½ hour including Honolulu, Hilo, Kalaeloa, Kawaihae, Kihei, Kahului,
Lihue, Kaneohe, Haleiwa, and Kaumalapau, Hawaii; Apra and Pago, Guam; Saipan, CNMI; Pago
Pago, American Samoa; Koror, Palau. (1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3)
Surface currents at 1km resolution once per hour in near real-time proximate to population
centers and areas of heavy commercial and/or recreational vessel traffic including Honolulu,
Kawaihae, Kahului, Kihei, and Hilo, Hawaii; Apra, Guam. (1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3)
Daily WWIII and SWAN wave model runs (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast wave
period, direction, and height throughout region (5km resolution within and around each
archipelago, ½ km resolution surrounding each island). (1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3)
Daily WRF atmospheric model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast 2m
temperatures, 10m wind, 2m relative humidity and rainfall throughout region (10km resolution
for each archipelago, 1.5km for each island). (1.1.1, 1.1.3)
Daily ROMS ocean circulation model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast water
temperature, ocean currents, salinity, and sea surface height (4km resolution for each insular
archipelago, 1km resolution for Hawaiian Islands). (1.1.1, 1.1.3)
Near real-time AIS transmissions from vessels within 70km of population centers and areas of
heavy commercial and/or recreational vessel traffic including Honolulu, Hilo, Kawaihae, Kihei,
Kahului, Lihue, Kaneohe, Haleiwa, and Kamaulapau, Hawaii; Apra and Pago, Guam; Saipan,
CNMI; and Pago Pago, American Samoa. (1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4)
Water level measurements (6 minute interval) in each major port and harbor facility in the
region including Honolulu, Kalaeloa, Maalaea, Kuamalapau, Kaneohe, Kawaihae, Kahului, Hilo,
Nawiliwili, Midway, French Frigate Shoals, Hawaii; Apra, Guam; Saipan, CNMI; Pago Pago,
American Samoa; Koror, Palau; Majuro, RMI; Kosrae, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, FSM; Wake Island.
(1.1.2)
Issue 1.2: Search and Rescue
PRODUCT AND SERVICES
1.2.1. NEAR REAL-TIME SURFACE CURRENT AND WAVE OBSERVATIONS SENT TO COAST GUARD’S
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVER FOR USE IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS .
1.2.2 MODEL OUTPUT OF OCEAN CIRCULATION, WAVE FIELDS , AND ATMOSPHERIC FORCING SENT TO
COAST GUARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVER FOR USE IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS .
INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS:
Surface currents at 1km resolution once per hour in near real-time proximate to population
centers and areas of heavy commercial and/or recreational vessel traffic including Honolulu,
Kawaihae, Kahului, Kihei, and Hilo, Hawaii; Apra, Guam. (1.1.1)
Observed wave period, direction, and height proximate to population centers, harbors, and
critical port facilities every ½ hour including Honolulu, Hilo, Kalaeloa, Kawaihae, Kihei, Kahului,
Lihue, Kaneohe, Haleiwa, and Kaumalapau, Hawaii; Apra and Pago, Guam; Saipan, CNMI; Pago
Pago, American Samoa; Koror, Palau. (1.1.1)
Daily WWIII and SWAN wave model runs (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast wave
period, direction, and height throughout region (5km resolution within and around each
archipelago, ½ km resolution surrounding each island). (1.1.2)
Daily WRF atmospheric model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast 2m
temperatures, 10m wind, 2m relative humidity and rainfall throughout region (10km resolution
for each archipelago, 1.5km for each island). (1.1.2)
Daily ROMS ocean circulation model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast water
temperature, ocean currents, salinity, and sea surface height (4km resolution for each insular
archipelago, 1km resolution for Hawaiian Islands). (1.1.2)
Issue 1.3: Spill response
PRODUCT AND SERVICES
1.3.1: NEAR REAL-TIME SURFACE CURRENTS AND NUMERICAL MODEL OUTPUT AVAILBLE FOR NOAA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE DIVISION (ERD), COAST GUARD AND OTHERS TO TRACK AND FORECAST OIL &
CHEMICAL TRAJECTORIES
INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS :
Surface currents at 1km resolution once per hour in hear real-time proximate to critical oil
lightering buoys, oil refineries, and major port facilities (Kalaeloa, Oahu; Honolulu Harbor, Oahu;
Apra Harbor, Guam; Pearl Harbor, Oahu)
Daily WWIII and SWAN wave model runs (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast wave
period, direction, and height throughout region (5km resolution within and around each
archipelago, ½ km resolution surrounding each island). (1.3.1)
Daily WRF atmospheric model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast 2m
temperatures, 10m wind, 2m relative humidity and rainfall throughout region (10km resolution
for each archipelago, 1.5km for each island). (1.3.1)
Daily ROMS ocean circulation model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast water
temperature, ocean currents, salinity, and sea surface height (4km resolution for each insular
archipelago, 1km resolution for Hawaiian Islands). (1.3.1)
Issue 1.4: Offshore Energy (includes, wind, OTEC, seawater AC, subsea
cables)
Description: Offshore energy development in the Pacific Islands region is limited to the
Hawaiian Islands; however, no operational capacity exists presently. Experimental wave power
generation exists off Oahu and Maui, while the nations first OTEC facility operated at Keahole
Point intermittently from 1992-1998. In response to the State of Hawaii’s Clean Energy
Initiative, development of offshore energy by private enterprise is moving forward. Proposed
growth within the next five years includes OTEC (Kalaeloa, Oahu), sea-water air conditioning
(Honolulu, Oahu), and offshore wind (Penguin Bank). Additionally, onshore wind power is
planned for Molokai and Lanai, with a seafloor power cable running from each island to Oahu.
Information requirements for deploying such a subsea cable are similar to other offshore energy
ventures and are included in the following requirements.
PRODUCT AND SERVICES:
1.4.1 OCEANOGRAPHIC AND METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND PREDICTIONS TO INFORM OFFSHORE
ENERGY PLANNING , DEVELOPMENT , SITE SELECTION AND OPERATIONS
INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS:
Surface currents at 1km resolution once per hour in near real-time proximate to areas of
offshore energy operations including Kalaeloa, Penquin Bank, and Honolulu, Hawaii. (1.4.1)
Observed wave period, direction, and height proximate to areas of energy operations including
Kalaeloa, Penquin Bank, and Honolulu, Hawaii. (1.4.1)
Daily WWIII and SWAN wave model runs (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast wave
period, direction, and height throughout State of Hawaii (5km resolution for archipelago, ½ km
resolution surrounding each island). (1.4.1)
Daily WRF atmospheric model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast 2m
temperatures, 10m wind, 2m relative humidity and rainfall throughout region (1.5 km resolution
for Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Penguin Bank). (1.4.1)
Daily ROMS ocean circulation model run (+168hr window, 1hr resolution) to forecast water
temperature, ocean currents, salinity, and sea surface height (1km resolution for Hawaiian
Islands). (1.4.1)