The US Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has celebrated the ground-breaking of its new facility at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island, US. 

This facility is intended to serve as the future NOAA Marine Operations Center-Atlantic. 

In December 2023, Skanska was awarded a $146.77m contract by the US Navy on behalf of the NOAA to build the structure. 

Funded in part by the Inflation Reduction Act, the design and construction of the NOAA Marine Operations Center-Atlantic aligns with US President Joe Biden’s 'Investing in America' agenda.  

Rhode Island governor Dan McKee said: “This facility will bolster our efforts to build climate-resilient infrastructure and support our blue economy."

The facility will feature a pier designed to accommodate four large vessels and a floating dock for smaller vessels.  

Additionally, it will include space for vessel repairs and parking, as well as a building for shoreside support and warehouse purposes. 

NOAA administrator PhD Rick Spinrad said: “I’m proud to say that this new facility has been designed to take future changes in our climate into consideration. 

“It will be LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certified and will soon be the homeport for one of our newest, lower emissions vessels, working towards the goal to minimise NOAA’s own impact on the environment.” 

Construction is expected to be completed in 2027, and it will operate under a project labour agreement per Executive Order 14063, issued by Biden.

Currently, the NOAA’s fleet includes 15 research and survey ships, which are operated, managed, and maintained by the NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations.