Oregon Public Broadcasting

The federal government's ocean research and regulatory arm is relocating its Pacific marine operations to Newport, Oregon. April Baer reports.

Yaquina Bay at Newport

Newport Mayor Bill Bain described the city as delirious at the news. 

Six months ago, the Port of Newport submitted a bid to host the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration's Pacific fleet of six big research ships.

NOAA's lease at Seattle's Lake Union is up. And Port of Newport Director Don Mann says his location was able to offer a favorable rate.

He can't be specific until the final details are worked out, but says the Port's goal was to keep the annual payment under $2.6  million.

Of that, Mann says the Port won't actually make very much. The real bang, he says, is the ripple effect.

Don Mann   "Once it is in full operation -- all the buildings are built, the ships are here, crews are coming and going, they're using vendors, the annual return estimated at $19 million a year."

Mann says the deal will bring about 175 crew members to town, and about 75 support staff.