§ 74. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the amount in money of the contract, and when the building will be commenced of the new research ship for the National Institute of Oceanography which he has ordered to be built by Messrs. Hall, Russell & Co. Limited, of Aberdeen; whether she will be nuclear-propelled; what are the scientific details of her modern oceanographic equipment; and whether the nuclear-propulsion and oceanographic equipment will all be of British production.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe new research ship, including equipment supplied by the National Institute of Oceano-52W graphy, will cost about £800,000, and building will commence in five months' time. Propulsion will be by diesel electric machinery, and all the propulsion machinery and oceanographic equipment will be of British production with the exception of two hydro-cranes, which are being purchased from the United States.
Details of the oceanographic equipment to be fitted in the new research ship for the National Institute of Oceanography are as follows:
- One trawl winch for trawling for specimens.
- One coring winch for use in examination of sea-bed.
- Three oceanographic winches.
- Shipborne wave recorder.
- Deep echo sounder.
- Biological low temperature laboratory with deep freeze for preserving specimens.
- Underwater periscope.
- Two hydro-cranes for handling scientific equipment at sea.
- Open well for lowering underwater units directly into the sea.
In addition, a great deal of portable electronic equipment is carried, the outfit varying with the purpose of the cruise