The Navy is but one of the sources from which platforms 

 might be obtained. An analysis of all ships available and their 

 characteristics has led to the establishment of three general 

 categories: (1) ships of opportunity , (2) synoptic ships, and (3) 

 survey ships . Ships of opportunity may be tankers, freighters, 

 fleet units, fishing vessels, etc. 



Considering a few aspects of applied oceanography, we have 

 refined stornn and ice prediction techniques to the point where 

 millions of dollars are saved each year in cutting transocean 

 crossing time and minimizing damage to ships and cargo. The 

 merchant marine has been contributing information for years 

 but more emphasis and better instruments are required. The 

 fishing industry is intensely interested in temperature, the 

 presence of plankton, and the location of sea mounts. Navy 

 is also vitally interested in all three. 



The next category, synoptic ships, is directed toward en- 

 vironmental prediction surveys -- such as ASWEPS -- Anti- 

 submarine Warfare Environmental Prediction System. Synoptic 

 ships might be called ocean station ships which maintain the 

 same position at sea over long periods of time. They are stopped 

 or underway at very slow speeds. The best examples of these 

 are: (1) Weather ships, (2) picket ships, (3) missile tracking 

 and recovery ships, etc. 



The third category comprises research and survey ships of 

 government agencies as well as those of private laboratories and 

 some educational institutions. Examples are the Bowditch , San 

 Pablo, and Rehoboth . 



Our existing survey ships are conversions. Six ships now 

 under construction were specifically designed for research and 

 survey purposes. 



In addition to characteristics, nnissions, and schedules, a 

 major contributing factor to the categorization of these various 

 ships has been the type and numbers of instruments that it would 

 be practicable to install. 



FIGURE 0.2 



U. S. BATHYTHERMOGRAPH HOLDINGS 



71 



