Another group of buoys that are operated by NDBC are called "Drifting Buoys." These buoys are designed to drift with the wind and continuously transmit data for 18 to 24 months until their power supply is depleted. They offer an excellent means to collect basic atmospheric and oceanic data from remote ocean areas. Drifting buoys have been deployed in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, in the north Pacific Current, and in the track of hurricanes. They provide valuable information on winds in these areas that are not easily accessible by ships.