August 28, 2015 

J. Ru. Morrison

Executive Director

NERACOOS

195 NH Ave Suite 240

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Dear Dr. Morrison,

On behalf of the North Atlantic Ports Association, we are pleased to express our support for the NERACOOS proposal to NOAA’s FY 2016 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) funding opportunity (number NOAA NOS IOOS 2016 2004378).

 The North Atlantic Ports Association Inc. (NAPA), founded in 1949, is one of the oldest and most active associations of commercial seaports.  Our member ports in the United States stretch from Maine to Virginia, and our goal is to promote commerce in a responsible manner.  Each one of our members is dedicated to the movement of cargo and passengers in a safe, secure and efficient manner in order to strengthen the local and national economies.

NERACOOS provides key information that supports these efforts. We strongly support this funding opportunity for NERACOOS.

Sincerely,

Capt. F. Bradley Wellock

President