EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 97 



superstructure deckhouse and main deckhouse. The crew nicssrooin and sanitary 

 facilities are in the main deckhouse; crew quarters are on the second deck. The 

 pilothouse is reasonably adequate in size hut the chartroom is extremely small 

 There is a small radioroom on the superstructure deck. 



Accommodations for a complement of 9 officers and 70 crew members can be 

 provided by rearrangement of existing compartments and extension of the main 

 deckhouse and superstructure. This is the minimum complement needed for 

 continuous operation and provides for eight additional engineroom personnel 

 required for duplicate watch in the two propulsion machinery compartments. 



The main propulsion switchboard is a live front installation and as located it 

 creates an extremely dangerous situation as to safety of personnel. Conversion 

 and operation replacement of this hazardous installation with a modern deadfront 

 switchboard to meet minimum safety standards. 



(b) It is concluded that the ATF class provides the best possibilities of any 

 of the classes examined for conversion to a satisfactory hydrograpluc surveying 

 ship. Operational efficiency will be restricted by the excessive (17-foot) draft 

 and operational costs will be increased by the necessary 15-percent increase in 

 complement over that required for a ship of the same or greater capabilities de- 

 signed specifically for hydrographic surveying. Operating costs will be further 

 increased by the fact that converted ships of this class will only have the capa- 

 bilities of class II surveying ships but will be almost 50 percent larger (1,240 tons 

 light displacement as against 860). The estimated cost of conversion is $1,856,000. 

 Detailed estimates of conversion costs are attached as appendix C. 



(c) Major features of the conversion required are as follows: 



(1) Remove towing machinery and extend main deckhouse aft approx- 

 imately 40 feet to provide additional crew quarters and workshop space. 



(2) Extend superstructure deckhouse forward for approximately 15 feet 

 and aft for approximately 8 feet to provide plotting room and office space. 



(3) Extend pilothouse and bridge deckhouse forward for approximately 

 12 feet and aft for approximately 10 feet to provide chartroom and radio 

 room space. 



(4) Extend height of stack casing by approximately 8 feet to clear new 

 superstructure. 



(5) Revise crew accommodations to provide quarters and sanitary facilities 

 for a crew of 70 men. 



(6) Revise officers accommodations to provide quarters for nine officers. 



(7) Insulate shell plating and deckhouse sides in way of accommodations. 



(8) Revise heating, ventilation, lighting, and sanitary systems to suit new 

 arrangement of accommodations. 



(9) Renew propulsion engines, ship's service generators, heating boiler, 

 supply and exhaust fans, evaporator, and auxiliary machinery. 



(10) Install davits on superstructure deck to' handle four 26- to 30-foot 

 motor launches. 



(11) Replace existing main propulsion switchboard. 



(12) Provide complete outfit and equipment. 



C. ANALYSIS 



1. In assessing the results of the examination of the four classes of existing 

 naval vessels it is apparent that three of the four classes can be converted ot 

 hydrographic surveying vessels of varying degrees of efficiency at costs totaling 

 from one-half to two-thirds of the costs of new construction. In addition to 

 these initial amounts there will be certain increased operating and maintenance 

 costs. The increased operating costs may be ascribed to the following factors: 



(1) Ten- to fifteen- percent increase in complement due to arrangement of 

 machinery spaces. 



(2) Greater consumption of fuel and other consumable supplies due 

 to the fact that these shins are approximately 50-percent larger than ships 

 of equivalent capabilities specifically designed for hydrographic surveys 

 would be. 



(3) Increased maintenance costs due to age. general obsolescence, and 

 light construction. 



(4) Intangible costs due to poor operating characteristics, inefficient 

 arrangement, and restriction on possible operating areas. 



2. The three classes of ships which it is believed possible to convert for hydro- 

 graphic surveys will require extensive alteration and rearrangement of substantial 

 cost. All of these ships are 14 to 16 years old and the majority have had hard 



