dry bulk commodities. The existing depths of channels serving the dry bulk carriers are generally inadequate to accommodate the larger vessels being employed in these trades.

As noted in chapter III of last year's Federal Ocean Program report, Congress, recognizing the growing inadequacy of the U.S. ports, authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct regional deepwater port studies on the North Atlantic, Gulf, and the Pacific coasts. Interim reports resulting from these studies have now been completed. While the reports made no recommendation for Federal participation in the development of deepwater port facilities, they have reached some general conclusions. First, deepwater port facilities can be justified only by a present or near future need to import foreign crude petroleum. Such a need exists, and there is economic justification for one or more deepwater port facilities on the North Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts to serve superships transporting crude petroleum. Several likely alternative systems and potential site and facility combinations were identified on each

coast. Second, monobuoy technology provides the most efficient, economic, and environmentally acceptable method of accommodating very large crude oil carriers at offshore locations. Third, deepwater ports are environmentally preferable to the present method of transporting crude petroleum in small tankers. By decreasing the number of ships, the chances of collision and grounding are reduced. Fewer ships will also reduce the number of transfer operations and the consequent risk of spills. Fourth, landside adverse environmental impacts resulting from expanded oil refinery and petrochemical complexes should be carefully controlled through coordinated land-use planning by local interests who have the ability to regulate the extent and nature of such growth through permits and through local land-use control. Fifth, private or non-Federal public ownership, financing, and operation of deepwater port facilities are compati9le with the public interest if accomplished under adequate and effective Federal control and regulation. Finally, there is presently no precedent or foreseeable need for the Federal Government to undertake the major capital investments that would be required to bring deepwater crude oil transshipment facilities, storage facilities, and pipelines into operation. Federal involvement should be limited to permits or licenses, except for traditional Federal activities such as providing access channels, nautical charts, and pertinent facilities for deepwater ports.

Should further initiatives be undertaken by States or other nonFederal interests to develop crude oil transshipment facilities, the reports contain considerable economic, engineering, and environmental data that should be employed in any Federal evaluation of such facilities.

MarAd completed a broad study of offshore ports in 1972 and is now supporting a study to evaluate techniques of offshore single point moorings from which petroleum can be piped ashore. The MarAd is also supporting an investigation to determine means of reducing wave heights in the vicinity of offshore moorings to reduce periods when such terminals may be inoperable because of sea-state. In FY '75, MarAd is planning a study to evaluate deepwater port construction costs and will start work on the design of a tug, or service vessel, to handle the arrival and departure of large petroleum carriers at the offshore sites.

Other Federal agencies have also conducted studies relating to deepwater ports. This work was largely concerned with the environmental impact of these facilities. Additional data useful in planning deepwater ports may be gathered in environmental studies performed for other purposes.

Chapter V

NATIONAL SECURITY

National security is the product of economic, industrial, and military strength capable of protecting and enhancing our opportunities to do the things we want to do as a nation. Each of these three aspects of national security-economic, industrial, and military-is dependent upon the others for the support that contributes to our overall strength as a nation and enables us to compete effectively in the increasingly complex international arena of commercial, diplomatic, and military activities.

The responsibility of the Department of Defense (DOD) is to provide, develop, and maintain capabilities to counter existing and future military threats to national security. Within DOD, the U.S. Navy is responsible for providing oceanographic services and marine research activities related to national security. Because of the Navy's need to operate above, across, and under the surface of the sea, it is essential that it have the means for measuring and predicting ocean features, and processes that influence naval operations. Improving national security through the use of oceanic surveillance systems relies almost entirely upon a thorough knowledge of the physics of underwater sound, which in turn is directly and significantly affected by most oceanographic variables. The Navy therefore supports significant activities and programs in the marine sciences. The Navy coordinates its marine science activities with those of other Federal marine science organizations and maintains a thorough knowledge of related international activities.

There is increased national awareness of the ocean and of the necessity for developing it for the benefit of the civilian sector. The Navy, with its long history of oceanographic operations and marine science activities, has a technologically competent base of personnel

The new twin-hulled USS Pidgeon (ASR #21), home-ported at San Diego, and her sister ship, the USS Ortolan (ASR #22), home-ported at Norfolk, provide unique capabilities for submarine rescue and deep saturation diving. They are configured for surface support of the Navy's DSRVs.