The Bureau's Marine Mineral Technology Center has made exceptional 

 use of Government excess property for the outfitting and operation of the 

 two mining research platforms. Many valuable items such as line, fenders, 

 pumps, hose, navigational instruments, tools, and the like have been made 

 available through other Government agencies at no charge. A classic example 

 of this is the procurement of $225,000 worth of stainless steel cable from 

 Navy surplus which is invaluable for lowering mineral recovery hardware to 

 the sea floor. 



Private industry also has assisted the Federal Government to establish 

 a sea-going capability in ocean mining. Oceanographic Engineering Corpora- 

 tion loaned the Bureau $15,000 in instruments and gear. The Raytheon Cor- 

 poration provided navigational and safety devices at cost plus five percent 

 and the University of Washington loaned the Bureau other items of marine 

 equipment. The U. S. Rubber Company supplied the marine mineral technology 

 group with 100 feet of special purpose rubber hose, worth several thousand 

 dollars, for use on shipboard to develop an airlift mining system. 



Through such cooperation of Federal and State organizations, institutes, 

 and private industry, the Bureau has been able to establish an active marine 

 mineral engineering program at a fraction of the cost which might be ex- 

 pected. 



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