In the introductions to volumes 1 through 5 there was alack of uniformity in accounting for translations; therefore,the figures given in those volumes are not directly com-parable with those shown here. Nevertheless, it is of interestto note that the combined percentage of Russian items in thefive volumes was 22.6, higher than the largest ratio (21.19percent) computed above. The proportion of French cita-tions declined from 4.4 percent in volumes 1 through 5 to3.46 percent in the present count, while Spanish citations in-creased from 2.1 percent to 2.95 percent, presumably reflec-ting a decrease in antarctic activities by France in 1972-1976as compared to 1962-1971, and stepped-up activities bysome South American countries in the same time period.The percentage of Japanese papers increased from 1.4 to3.64, and Norwegian papers from marginal to 0.19. Thismay be attributed to a more thorough search effort by theproject in Japanese and the Scandinavian languages, asreported earlier (Thuronyi, 1976).

From this brief tally it appears that more than 99 percentof the antarctic literature is concentrated in only 6languages. We like to believe that this count reflects the trueoutput. If our readers, however, are aware of any foreign-language literature—or English literature, for that matter—that has gone undetected by us, we urge them to bring suchwritings to our attention for inclusion in the AntarcticBibliography. Reprints, documents, citations, or any othercorrespondence should be directed to the Library of Con-gress, Science and Technology Division, Cold RegionsBibliography Project, Washington, D.C. 20540.

References

Antarctic Bibliography, vols. 1-5, 1965-1971. Introduction.Washington, D.C., Library of Congress.

Thuronyi, G.T. 1976. Increase in Antarctic Bibliography citations.AntarcticJournal of the U.S., XI(4): 292-293.

Conceptual design of a polarresearch ship

A.F. BETZEL

Division of Polar ProgramsNational Science Foundation

Washington, D.C. 20550

In 1962, the National Science Foundation began aresearch program in the southern oceans using USNS Eltanin.The 84-meter ship was manned by the Military Sealift Com-mand and in 10 years made 52 cruises in the southern

oceans, covering Atlantic and Pacific Ocean areas sur-rounding Antarctica, but omitting the sector south of theIndian Ocean.

Eltanin, now operated by Argentina and renamed IslasOrcadas in a cooperative U.S.-Argentine science program,is equipped for research in marine biology, physicaloceanography, marine geology, and geophysics. It has anice-strengthened hull, carries a science party of 20, and hasover 60 days' endurance.

Concurrently with the construction of Palmer Station in1967, the Foundation funded construction of R/V Hero.Hero is an ice-strengthened, wooden-hulled, diesel and sail-equipped New England trawler. It is equipped for marinebiology and hydrographic work. Hero can accommodateeight scientists for 30 days. Its small size (38 meters) is ahandicap during ocean transit in poor weather, but the ship

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excels in support of shallow-water biology and geology proj-ects. Home port for this ship is Ushuaia, Argentina, duringthe austral winter and Palmer Station, Antarctica, duringthe austral summer.

Hero's small size, limited equipment, short endurance,and heavy roll have classed her as less than ideal for antarc-tic research. It is, however, "iceworthy," and can do somework in loose ice pack. Hero is at midlife, and will phase outin about 10 years.

Navigation in heavy polar pack ice has traditionally beendone by icebreakers of the U.S. Coast Guard. Each year theDivision of Polar Programs tasks the Coast Guard to breakthe ship channel through the ice into the U.S. antarctic sta-tion McMurdo and to support science programs in andaround the antarctic ice pack. Operating costs for theselarge, powerful ships are high, and their availability islimited because they must serve in both polar areas eachyear.

The inventory of the world's ice strengthened researchships is small and generally restricted to authenticicebreakers fitted to support some science. The U.S. inven-tory is restricted to the icebreakers operated by the U.S.Coast Guard plus approximately six additional researchships with some degree of ice strengthening but low en-durance. None of these research ships are suitable for workin and around the polar ice pack.

Realizing that both Eltanin and Hero must be retiredfrom service in the next decade, the National Science Foun-dat'ion's Division of Polar Programs joined with the Officefor Oceanographic Facilities and Support in funding a con-ceptual design of a new polar research ship. The Office forOceanographic Facilities and Support's interest in the newpolar ship stemmed from a proposal from the University ofAlaska for the construction of an iceworthy research ship foroperation in the Bering Sea and northward.

The principal investigators in the development of the con-ceptual design were Dr. Robert Eisner and Mr. JohnDermody, University of Alaska, and Mr. John Leiby, WoodsHole Oceanographic Institution. Their task was to design aship that is affordable to build and operate in support of

science in areas where loose to medium pack ice might beencountered. The ship also would be able to support multi-ple science programs on the open ocean. John W. GilbertAssociates Inc., Boston, Massachusetts (marine architects)and Arctec Inc., Columbia, Maryland (consultingengineers), developed hull and machinery plans.

The principal investigators formed an advisory team ofexperienced scientists selected from Scripps Institution ofOceanography, University of Washington, Texas A & M,Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Oregon StateUniversity, and the University of Alaska to determine thescience support capabilities of the new ship. Questionnaireswere circulated asking basic questions concerning thedesired range, endurance, and equipment. From theanswers, the team evolved a conceptual design for an arcticresearch ship and a lengthened version of the same designfor the Antarctic. The conceptual design was successfullyreviewed by German and Mime, naval architects, Montreal,Canada.

The ship is equipped for stern trawling, coring, dredging,and hydrographic stations. It has an antiroll flume tank justbelow bridge level and a bow thruster for maneuvering onstation. The crew of 17 can support a science party of anequal number or greater. Tie-down deck vans and bolt-ondeck equipment will enable the ship to support a wide varie-ty of scientific tasks both in and out of ice. The ship's hull isice-classified the same as the Coast Guard icebreakers. Extrascantlings and specially quenched and tempered steel formthe ice strengthened hull. The ship has an icebreaker bow,but the rest of the hull shape strikes a compromise betweenoperations in the ice and in open water. The power plantproduces 3,700-horsepower: respectable, but not enough toram and break through solid pack.

The estimated cost of the arctic version is between $11.5and $13 million expressed in April 1977 dollars. The cost ofthe lengthened antarctic version is $0.5 million more. Thesecost figures do not include fitting out the ship with deck andscience equipment.

This research was supported by National Science Founda-tion grant OCE 76-10089.

Principal conceptual characteristics of the polar research ship:

Length overallBeamDraftDisplacementShaft horse powerPropellorsRuddersBow thrusterPropulsionRangeEnduranceLiving accommodationsLaboratory area

Arctic Version

59 meters12.5 meters4.8 meters1600 metric tons3,7002 controllable pitch21 water jet type2 geared diesel engines13,250 miles at 13 knots60 days17 crew, 17 scientists195 square meters

Antarctic Version

70 meters12.5 meters4.8 meters2100 metric tons3,7002 controllable pitch2I water jet type2 geared diesel engines20,000 miles at 13 knots90 days17 crew, 19 scientists322 square meters

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