275 
As regards the merchant marine, the Moscow State Project-Design 
and Research Institute of Sea Transport, SOYUSMORNIIPROEKT 
(with branches in Odessa, Leningrad, and Vladivostok) is responsible 
for the ‘‘complex planning of seaports, shipbuilding yards and coastal 
structures in sea_ transport,’ and also conducts some 
research—especially on hydroengineering construction.*® The “‘leading 
research institution for the merchant marine,’’ however, is the Lenin- 
grad-based Central Research Institute of the merchant marine, 
TSNIIMF, which ‘‘deals with problems related to the choice of the 
most perfect types of ships,*” to the organization of ship maintenance, 
and to improvement of labor organization and working conditions 
for seamen.” ‘‘Scientific studies are now obligatory before taking any 
decision on technical or organizational matters.” *® And again, the 
higher technology content of the industry places higher demands on 
its personnel: there are Higher Educational Establishment(s) of Sea 
Transport in Odessa, Leningrad, and Vladivostok.” 
Practical intra- and inter departmental coordination is oiled by the 
Automatic Control System, ACS, the kernel of which has been 
described as ‘‘the sophisticated computing centers of the Baltic, Black 
Sea, Novoroslik, Severny, and Far Eastern shipping agencies, and the 
Merchant Marine Ministry’s Chief Computing Centre in Moscow.” 
“The ACS ensures day-to-day control for merchant marine dislocation 
and shipping process, as well as optimal planning and adequate super- 
vision over the performance of ships and_ seaports” (in 
general)—including the coordination of sea-rail container services 
(such as that now established between European ports, Leningrad- 
Nakhodka, and the ports of Japan).*° 
Each of the ‘Mother Institutions” here indicated has its own 
publishing facilities, responsible for books as well as journals and 
monographs. 
THE STRATEGIC RELEVANCE: ROLES AND MISSIONS OF THE 
“CIVILIAN” FLEETS 
THE MERCHANT MARINE 
The merchant marine serves at least four strategic purposes. It 
obviates dependence on foreign hulls for trade purposes,°' allowing 
for self-sufficiency in export-import trade capability. It means that 
cargo does not have to be submitted to foreign scrutiny, a considera- 
tion of political, but even more of strategic importance. Carefully 
designed-in dual-purpose capability entails considerable potential for 
the relatively unobtrusive movement of noncivilian cargo, whether 
men, missiles, or Kalashnikovs.*? The administrative integration under 
which it operates furthermore allows it to act as the regular provider 
of a wide variety of supplies for naval units proper (ranging from 
oil to toilet paper). The smaller formal naval size, occasioned by 
46A.  Kolesnichenko, ‘“‘USSR Merchant Marine: Latest Developments’, Novosti Release 
102EX20910/K; and Guzhenko, op. cit. 
47It is illustrative of changing times that whereas in past decades Soviet ship design (civilian and 
military) illicited nothing but disdain in the West,—today the U.S. Navy has a program to imitate 
Soviet ship designs; see i.e. ““Aerospace Daily’’, July 3, 1974. 
48 Kolesnichenko, op. cit. 
49For useful general surveys, see Morskoi Flot SSSR za 50 Let, (The navy in the U.S.S.R. over 50 
years.) Nvosti Press, Moscow 1974, or The Soviet Merchant Marine, Novosti, 1974. 
50 Ibid. 
51 The grain purchases of the early 60's, for example, were transported in foreign hulls. 
52 As demonstrated during the 1962 Cuban “missile crisis”’. 
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