SNAME Chesapeake Section Hears Paper On U.S. Coast Guard R&D Program

The Chesapeake Section of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers met recently at the Washington Navy Yard Officers' Club to hear Rear Adm. A.P.

Manning describe "The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Program." The Coast Guard's area of responsibility has been significantly broadened over the last decade, especially in the area of maritime law enforcement, marine pollution control, vessel traffic management, and navigation services.

Many of these expanded activities are technology-intensive, requiring the strengthening of the technological efforts within the Coast Guard through manpower and funding for research and development.

The importance of R&D activities within the Coast Guard was recognized through the creation of an office of Research and Development in 1968, and the creation of the R&D Center in 1972.

Since then, the new office has grown from 38 personnel and a one-million-dollar budget to 232 military and civilian personnel with a 22-million-dollar budget.

Current R&D activity involves scientific investigations, studies of new technological advances, transfer of existing technologies, and test and evaluation of new products in the areas of search and rescue, enforcement of laws and treaties, polar and domestic icebreaking, support for marine science, aids to navigation systems, marine environmental protection, commercial vessel safety, recreational boating safety, and military readiness. Significant results from these activities include the development and improvement of the Airborne Oil Surveillance System (ADSS), the Emergency Position Indication and Reporting Beacon (EPIRB), oil-spill identification system, Loran-C navigation system, Vessel Traffic System (VTS), and a variety of vessel safety features. Future R&D efforts will be directed at new and improved surveillance technology, advanced n a v i g a t i o n systems, command, control and communications, advanced vehicles, ice research, pollution response technology, and underwater technology.

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