NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 577 



Lakes, where a project may take place going from the Great Lakes 

 into the ocean. 



The participants: Pacific — Naval Air Missile Test Center, General 

 Motors and your members of the House Merchant Marine and Fish- 

 eries Conmiittee; Atlantic — Florida Atlantic University and General 

 Motors, assisted by the Oceanographic Office, the fleet weather facility 

 and the American Export Line. 



The objective of the Pacific, pref easibility ; in our phase, feasibility; 

 and the recommendation for the Great Lakes project will probably be 

 a total scientific experiment. 



The tests : Biological sampling for Pacific ; temperature, by BT, and 

 salinity measurements at medium speed ; in Atlantic, we did it at high 

 speed, with biological sampling, working with living matter on board 

 the ship; and, in this particular case, we used an "engines aft" ship 

 which we found to be unsatisfactory. 



The equipment: The General Motors Defense Laboratory jetnet 

 equipment was used on both tests ; the Packard BT's were used on both 

 tests; but we also used Sippican BT's and we had a little bit more 

 equipment for temperature and salinity in the engineroom. 



The results were highly satisfactory for Project Neptune Pacific. 

 Ours is still under analysis but I feel our objective was satisfied but 

 we will have a lot of recommendations for improvement. 



As tentative conclusions, and I emphasize the word "tentative," be- 

 cause it is still under analysis I offer : 



The concept of the research ship of opportmiity is feasible. The 

 biological tests on living organisms can be done, but improvements 

 are needed. Laboratory modules without wheels should be investi- 

 gated. The means to dampen vibration in the laboratory is needed. 

 The jetnet is marginal at high speeds; tows must be made aft. No 

 "engines aft" ships should be used. 



The expendable BT systems were very satisfactory. The digital 

 taper for expendable BT promises to be vitally important to rapid 

 oceanographic data transmission and processing for future ASW and 

 oceanographic purposes. 



The cooperation of the ship line, their officers and crew was out- 

 standing. There was no interruption to the ship's operation, schedule 

 or routine, and the overtime costs were nominal. 



The last thing, the cooperation of the Oceanographic Office, 

 NAMTC Point Mugu, General Motors, Francis Associates, the Amer- 

 ican Export Isbrandtsen Lines, the Office of Naval Research, and the 

 other colleges of Florida Atlantic University were outstanding. 



The recommendations we believe we may make are: (1) to conduct 

 a complete scientific experiment in the next phase; (2) to consider de- 

 sign of a new module for Research Ship of Opportunity — not a modi- 

 fication of an existing van ; (3) to explore the advantages of digitized 

 output of an expendable BT system for ASWEPS and other ocean- 

 ographic systems; (4) to devise a better high-speed biological sampler 

 for high-speed research ships of opportunity; (5) to consider deck 

 space allocations plus quarters and services for a small scientific party 

 in new merchant marine construction or conversion; and (6) future 

 support for the RSO concept. 



Mr. Rogers. Thank you very much, Professor Shephan. We are 

 very pleased that this has been so successful because this committee is 



