Convention on Tonnage Measurement, which will provide for the first 

 time in more than 100 years uniform determinations of vessel tonnages. 

 Coast Guard studies are in progress to achieve improved safety conditions 

 on U.S. commercial fishing ships, and an investigation was completed to 

 determine the proper Coast Guard role in promoting safety for civilian 

 submersibles and for other nonmilitary underwater activity. 



Arctic Voyage of SS ''Manhattan'' 



As geophysical exploration and test drillings confirmed that Alaska's north 

 slope contained major oil reserves, it became clear that a primary problem 

 would be distribution of the oil to world marketing centers. Considering the 

 geographical location, and the environmental conditions both at sea and on 

 land, neither pipelines nor conventional tankers seemed entirely suitable for 

 the purpose. As a result, for the first time in a century, serious consideration 

 was given to the Northwest Passage as a trade route. 



The Humble Oil & Refining Co., deeply involved in the Alaskan oil pro- 

 duction, selected the SS Manhattan, already the largest merchant ship to fly 

 the U.S. flag, for modifications preparatory to an experimental run from the 

 east coast of the United States, through the Canadian Archipelago to the 

 north coast of Alaska, and return. While her pioneering voyage — in itself 

 one of the significant maritime events of 1969 — provided a great amount of 

 information on her own performance, the Manhattan was operating pri- 

 marily as a test vehicle, looking toward the possibility of icebreaking super- 

 tankers of 250,000 deadweight tons. 



The tanker underwent extensive modifications prior to her voyage. She 

 was strengthened internally and sheathed externally against the tremendous 

 forces to be expected in the ice pack, and a new bow designed for more 

 effective icebreaking was installed. After conversion she had the following 

 statistics: 11 5,000 deadweight tons, 1,005 feet length overall, 148 feet breadth 

 52 feet draft, and 43,000 horsepower driving twin five-bladed propellers — 

 a far cry from John Cabot's wooden hulled sailing ships which in 1498 had 

 first searched for a northern shortcut to China. 



Because of the complex engineering and scientific problems which were 

 anticipated, a large team of experts was assembled to prepare for and carry 

 out the voyage. Scientific and engineering personnel, and experts in Arctic 

 ship operations were provided by the Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, 

 and the Navy, as well as by universities, industry, and the Canadian 

 Government. 



The Manhattan departed Philadelphia on August 28, 1969, and proceeded 

 by way of Halifax, and Thule, Greenland. Almost immediately, she encoun- 

 tered extensive pack ice in Baffin Bay, and had a chance to shake down her 

 equipment. At various times during the voyage she was assisted by the U.S. 

 Coast Guard icebreakers Northwind and Staten Island and the Canadian 

 icebreakers Sir John A. McDonald and Louis St. Laurent. On September 5 

 she entered Parry Channel and headed westward through the Canadian 

 Archipelago in the "northwest passage." 



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