The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has selected the former Tesoro Fuel Terminal as the homeport site for NOAA Ship Fairweather. The hydrographic survey ship is currently undergoing reactivation and renovation. NOAA expects that Fairweather will arrive in its new homeport of Ketchikan, Alaska, later this summer. The Tesoro site was selected primarily because of its close proximity to the downtown area and facility costs.

“Homeporting Fairweather in Ketchikan could provide 30-35 jobs in the area, possibly two ashore and the remainder aboard ship,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA intends to staff the ship with local civilian mariners to the extent possible, for a positive effect on the Ketchikan economy.” NOAA representatives hosted a job fair in cooperation with the Jobs Center last fall, to recruit potential applicants.

The 231-ft. Fairweather is presently undergoing shipyard work at Cascade General Inc. in Portland, Ore. NOAA expects the ship to be delivered in June. Once final outfitting and sea trials have been accomplished, the ship will move to Ketchikan. Fairweather primarily will be conducting hydrographic surveys in Alaskan waters for the purpose of updating nautical charts.

The NOAA fleet of research and survey ships and aircraft is operated, managed and maintained by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations. NMAO includes commissioned officers of the NOAA Corps and civilians. The NOAA Corps is the nation’s seventh and smallest uniformed service, and, as part of NOAA, is under the U.S. Department of Commerce. Fairweather will be under the command of Commander John Lowell, NOAA Corps.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

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