We welcome contributions in the area of Operational Oceanography which demonstrate skill assessment, uncertainty estimation, end-to-end applications and risk analysis. Discussions can include the use of metrics comparing model simulations with data and other operational criteria (already existing in oceanography or novel methods taken from other disciplines), data assimilation, analysis of error covariances and error distributions and risk assessment due to forecast errors. Disciplines can range from physical (e.g waves, currents, ice, the thermohaline structure, and related fields) to physical-biogeochemical (e.g. inherent optical properties, chlorophyll concentration, primary production, nutrient cycling) along with their downstream operational implementations. We invite papers describing assessment of local, regional and global models and the complementary observing systems (e.g. fixed in-situ, satellite, ferries, gliders, floats) which provide the data required for assessment, from the open ocean to the nearshore. This session will provide a forum for real-time applications of ocean forecasting systems based on hydrodynamic, ecological, and/or integrated land-air-ocean-wave-ice coupled modeling systems. Topics we would like to focus on include: risk analysis, forecast validity and uncertainty; observational network assessment and adaptive sampling; reconciliation of multi-model / ensemble simulations. With the move towards the routine dissemination of oceanographic services we also welcome contributions reflecting the current trend in this area.