CONCLUSIONS 



Power Assistance Unit 



1. The PAU was useful during boom deployment and retrieval. 



2. The foot tire control mechanism is not safe because during an 

 emergency it is necessary for an operator to press the control to stop 

 the tire from rotation. 



3. To use the PAU for boom deployment, it is necessary to physically 

 remove the drive chain to permit free tire rotation. 



4. The boom may not be retained on the tires during deployment and 

 retrieval without the boom retaining modification fabricated for these 

 tests. 



5. To protect the boom from damage, it is necessary to use a chute on 

 the PAU and to place the PAU so that it clears the pier, pilings, and all 

 protrusions from the pier and pilings. 



6. If the PAU is not rigidly fixed, it may topple over and fall into the 

 water during use . 



7. There is no nonskid walking surface around the PAU for operator 

 safety. In tests, a 4' x 8' x 3/4" thick plywood sheet was used, 



8. The tow line, the boom, and the boom connectors kept getting 

 entrapped in the spaces between the tires. 



9. The selection of a pier and the location of the PAU on the pier will 

 determine the ease with which boom could be deployed and retrieved. 



10. The absence of a mechanism to turn the PAU in the direction of the 

 boom makes its use difficult under wind and/or current conditions. 



Utility Boat 



1. The UTB could be readily deployed and retrieved by a crane. 



2. The UTB could be damaged when it hits pilings and other objects if 

 fenders are not used. 



3. The speedometer was not found to be useful in UTB operations. 



4. The deck of the UTB could become very slippery, and therefore unsafe, 

 during harbor oil spill removal/recovery operations. 



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