260 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



Referring again to page 1 of subject, the new decli installed in 195S was a 

 job that should have been done a year or so earlier. It would have been too 

 if it had not been for the engine breakdown, which fact shows that the expense 

 of engine repairs came in lieu of annual upkeep costs, not in addition to them. 

 The deck job, which cost $4,200, did not, of course, consist of new deck plates, 

 but rather the replacement of the old wood sheathing with a modern, water- 

 proof, nonskid deck emulsion. When the steel deck plates were bared during 

 this work, they were test-drilled by ABS representatives and found to be in 

 excellent condition. There are no new leaks in the deck, contrary to the report. 



During the past 12 months the schedule of the vessel has never been delayed, 

 nor have any scheduled cruises been omitted, due to breakdowns or other causes 

 which coTild be attributed to the vessel's condition. In years past, certainly the 

 engine breakdown caused considerable delay, but beyond that there have been 

 no major repairs or out of the ordinary repairs or layups causing undue delays 

 in the work schedule. Indeed, no condition exists aboard the vessel today to 

 keep her from going to sea for 300 days per year, if the work schedule required 

 it. According to subject report, the Albatross III has been at sea for 102 days 

 during the first half of fiscal year 1959. This, of course, equals an annual rate 

 of 204 days. And this rate was accomplished with a scheduled idle period of 

 25 days over the Christmas holidays. The figures in the report just do not 

 add up to the conclusion that the Service draws from them. 



On page 5 of the report, it is stated that costs for the Delaware run about 

 $10,000 per month, compared to $14,000 per month for the Albatross III. From 

 these two cold, uninformative figures, someone would infer that the Delaware 

 was more economical to operate — $4,000 per mouth cheaper, if you please. 



A look at the attached sheet, showing a comparison of research facilities 

 and personnel accommodations aboard the two vessels, and considering the fact 

 that the Albatross III has been working almost entirely on a 24-hour, round 

 the clock, watch and watch basis, whereas the Delaware has been operating on 

 a strictly daylight basis, then these figures present a different picture : 



Albatross III: 



Carries average of 6 scientific personnel each working an average of — 



Hours per day 12 



Days per month at sea 15 



Hours per month 180 



Scientists 6 



Research hours per month 1, 080 



$14,000X1,080 hours=$13 per hour of scientific research done on the 

 Albatross III. 

 Delaware: 



Carries average of 2 scientists, each working an average of — 



Hours per day 10 



Days per month at sea 15 



Hours per month 150 



Scientists 2 



Research hours per month 300 



$10,000X300 hours=over $33 per hour of scientific research done on the 

 Delaioare. 



On a typical fishing cruise the Albatross III will average better than 10 tows 

 per day, fishing round the clock. On a recent cruise report, figures show that 

 the Delaware averaged less than four tows per day. If the Albatross III can 

 accomplish n^ore than twice as much work for less than one-third more oper- 

 ating cost one might expect to believe she would be judged more economical. 

 The fact is that not one man aboard either of the two vessel.s, or the biologists 

 and technicians who go out on them, not one experienced seaman, given a simi- 

 lar choice would choose the Delaware. It is a most illogical move. It is a deci- 

 sion arbitrarily made by someone totally unfamiliar with the operation of the 

 two vessels. 



The statement of increased costs shown on page 5 of the report certainly 

 represents a drastic increase in the wages of vessel personnel. But here again 

 the figures lead you astray. There was no review of wages made until 1957 



