214 



api:)roximately 50 feet is urgently required in 

 this zone for sucli activities as surveys, traffic 

 control, mineral resource development, sal- 

 vage, and scientific research. Such a system 

 is within tlie state-of-tlie-art ; however, the 

 best design for meeting cost, reliability, and 

 accuracy criteria is not known. 



Navigation for subsurface vehicles pre- 

 sents an even more difficult problem which 

 must be solved 'as submersibles are brought 

 into wider scientific and commercial use. Sub- 

 mersible navigation needs appear unlikely to 

 be met by use of electromagnetic transmis- 

 sions. The Navy's inertial navigation system, 

 which has proved so effective under polar ice, 

 shows the way to systems for civil submer- 

 sible use, if cost can be reduced. The Navy 

 also is developing navigation systems for its 

 deep submergence rescue vehicles, the nuclear 

 powered research vehicle NR-1, and others. 

 New techniques probably will be required as 

 civil undersea activity increases. The pro- 



posed Continental Shelf Laboratories Na- 

 tional Project should include test facilities 

 for new undersea navigation technology. 



The Coast Guard is assigned the respon- 

 sibility for integration of all marine naviga- 

 tion services into a national navigation sys- 

 tem. This system still is in the developmental 

 stage, and the Commission urges that its 

 planning be expedited. Development of the 

 system should permit identification of obso- 

 lete elements which might be phased out or 

 replaced by more advanced technology. 

 Further, as integration of various plan ele- 

 ments is accomplished, determination of 

 priorities will become easier and funding 

 levels for improvement and maintenance can 

 be established on a realistic basis. 



The Commission recommends that the 

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Agency (CG) give priority attention to 

 providing a system yielding navigation 



The Coast Guard is responsible for integration of all marine navigational 

 services into a national navigation system. From left to right, the Ambrose 

 Lightship after commissioning of the permanent Ambrose Offshore Light 

 Tower outside Ncic York harbor in 1967; the interior of Coast Guard 

 LORAN transmitting station; and a buoy being hoisted aboard the coastal 

 buoy tender Hed Wood for overhaul and repair ashore. 



