OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 331 



accumulation of data but rather for the application of the most advanced ideas 

 and techniques of modern science to problems of the oceans. It is essential to 

 enlist the interest of imaginative and outstanding scientists in these problems. 

 For this purpose, the provision of adequate primary research tools, particularly 

 livable and efficient oceanographic ships, is a prime requisite. 



If. Why do we need to replace existing vessels? 



Because many are nearly worn out and others are obsolescent and do not 

 meet the needs of modern oceanography. It is characteristic of all American 

 oceanographic institutions that all available funds have been used for opera- 

 tion and no reserve for replacement or depreciation has been accumulated. 



5. Why cannot Navy and other Government vessels he used for research? 

 Basically, because Navy vessels are designed to operate for other purposes ; 



namely, to maintain a fleet in readiness for the defense of the United States. 

 Tliis means that training and military operations must take priority over scien- 

 tific work. In our opinion, it is both ineffective and uneconomical to use Navy 

 vessels for free research, although they can be very effectively used for surveys 

 and developed tests. Similar considerations apply to other governmental vessels 

 which in almost every case have primary tasks that inhibit free research. 



6. What size, type, and number of vessels are needed and when should they he 



huilt? 



During the next two decades at least 10 ships, 80 to 150 feet long, capable of 

 15-knot speed, cruising radius of 1,000 to 5,000 miles, capable of staying several 

 weeks at sea with a scientific party of 10 to 20, will be needed. These should 

 be provided at the rate of one every 2 years. 



In addition, two ships are needed, one for the Atlantic and one for the Pacific, 

 of 1,000 to 1,500 tons, capable of all-weather exploration of the entire ocean, 

 with laboratory and living accommodations for effective scientific work by 20 

 to 30 in the scientific party. These should be built as soon as possible to enable 

 the United States to assume its proper role in modern scientific investigations 

 of geophysics, geochemistry, and marine biology. 



7. Is it sufficient merely to huild these vessels? 



No. On the contrary, operating funds are desperately needed. These would 

 allow more free scientific work at sea for existing oceanographic ships. The 

 need for operating funds would be even greater for the proposed large new 

 vessels, since they would be more expensive, probably twice as expensive as any 

 existing nongovernmental American oceanographic ship. Experience shows that 

 for every dollar spent on ship operation, about $3 must be spent in the shore 

 establishment, for the support of scientists and technicians, the operations of 

 laboratories, and the provision of equipment. Unless a substantial part of the 

 required operating funds for the large vessels are provided, then it would not 

 be advisable to have them built. Because of the necessity for coordination of 

 the scientific work, funds for ship operations should be made available to the 

 institution responsible for the ships, rather than grants to individual scientists. 

 Because of the necessity of long-term planning, funds should be made available 

 for a period of at least 5 years. 



8. Who should operate the proposed new ships? 



As in the past, smaller vessels should be operated by the various oceanographic 

 institutions. Some other arrangement might be necessary for the proposed 

 two large vessels ; but, in general, such arrangement should also involve existing 

 oceanographic institutions with the basic prerequisite that every attempt be 

 made to enlist the interest and active participation in the work at sea of 

 scientists throughout the country. 



Dr. Benson. It was recognized at that time that the most pressing 

 need was the replacement of the Atlantis at Woods Hole. We did 

 not state, "This is what we are going to do." We wanted to ex- 

 plore it further, but we had this in the back of our minds. 



In September of 1956, with the concurrence and advice of the Earth 

 Sciences Panel, we called together the directors of seven oceanographic 

 institutions of the country that would be most concerned for an ad- 

 visory meeting on the need for ships, on what type of ships we needed, 



