NOAA ships find temporary digs at Seattle cruise-ship terminal

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will moor four ships in Seattle this winter, the Port of Seattle said today.

The agency had been considering winter mooring sites outside the city, but has decided to temporarily dock its vessels at the Terminal 30 facility on East Marginal Way South.

Last July, an electrical fire destroyed two piers and storage buildings on Lake Union property that NOAA leases.

The federal research agency's lease is up at that location in 2011, and it has been looking for a home port for the ships. Locations from Bellingham to Astoria are under consideration, said Cmdr. Michael Gallagher with NOAA.

The ships will be at the Terminal 30 facility, leased and operated by Cruise Terminals of America, from November to March.

"We felt like we really want them to stay in Seattle because this has been their home," said Charla Skaggs, a Port of Seattle spokeswoman. "We don't want to lose them."

The ships could potentially stay in Seattle, if the current landlord repairs the piers or another site is found.

NOAA, which has had a presence in Seattle since the early 1900s, expects to identify its top locations for a home port by November 2008.

Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com