Oceanographic ships, fore and aft

268 Pages·1971·12.846 MB·English

by  Stewart B. Nelson

OCEANOGRAPHIC
SHIPS
'
/ .

ru

H55
Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy
OCEANOGRAPHIC
SHIPS
Fore and
Aft
by
Stewart B. Nelson
LI;
vv. ri. V. I,
1971
"
AndNeptune mused, "What manner
ofmen be these that disturb
me in my depths?
"Ifeel the lash oftheir wire, the
bite oftheir hooks, the sting
oftheir coresand drills.
"Ishallforgive them these abuses and
tolerant be oftheir demands
ifthey show deference to my domain.
"But be they thoughtlessguests, and
Ishallgive themfish not
fit to eat and water not
fit to touch.
SBN
ForsalebytheSuperintendentofDocuments, U.S. GovernmentPrintingOffice
Washington,D.C.20402-Price$4.50
StockNumber0842-0050
FOREWORD
For oceanographers the ocean itself is the laboratory, and the adequacy of the ships used
will significantly affect the oceanographers' ability to work at sea.
As Mr. Nelson has depicted, prior to 1960, the oceanographer in his ships, with few excep-
tions, had to content himself with miscellaneous,jury-rigged conversions. The immense progress
we have made in this past decade to explore and exploit our planet's water resourceshas in large
measure been made possible by the specially designed oceanographic ships that have been built.
Yet we are caught in a paradoxical web ... the more we learn and the further we venture, the
greater the demands we must place upon our facilities. Our new tools of yesterday thus become
tomorrow's obsolescent ships.
We are now faced with a tremendous challenge in trying to achieve a quahty environment.
Thischallenge can be met . . . but it wUl require resources and a major cooperative effort.
As in the past, the Navy will continue its leadership in the marine sciences and will continue
to work with and share its knowledge with other national and international programs to the
maximumextentconsistent with our country's security.
Rear Admiral W. W. Behrens,Jr., USN
Oceanographer ofthe Navy
III

PREFACE
The early history of oceanography is inseparable from that of discovery and exploration,
which in turn depended upon a thirst for knowledge and the quest for trade. The sailors of old,
despite knowing little or nothing of what lay beyond and inadequately provided with ships and
gear, put to sea resolved to do their best to accomplish something ofnote and to bring back their
data and conclusions.
Today we are confronted with challenges that need the sprit and imagination ofyesterday's
adventurers.
Through tales of ships and deeds, Mr. Nelson's treatise illustrates the long and mutually
beneficial association of the Navy with science and industry, with fisherman, and with the mer-
chant marine in the broad field known as oceanography. It is by this continuing spirit ofcoopera-
tion that we will ensure that our country maintains its leadership in the effective use ofthe sea and
fulfills its obligation to mankind.
Rear Admiral O. D. Waters,Jr., USN
Oceanographer ofthe Navy
(1966-1970)