NOAA vessel to make Newport home port

WASHINGTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association fisheries research vessel Henry B. Bigelow will be permanently homeported in Newport, Sen. Jack Reed announced April 12.

The 209-foot, $54 million ship supports NOAA’s mission to protect, restore and manage the use of living marine, coastal and ocean resources, through ecosystem-based management. Its primary objective is to study and monitor Northeast Marine Fisheries throughout New England.

“Rhode Island is a critical hub for oceanographic research and permanently home-porting this vessel in Newport is a smart, cost-effective move that is in the best interests of taxpayers and NOAA researchers,” said Reed. •

No posts to display