Page 243 - NS-2 Textbook

238 NAUTICAL SCIENCES

The Navy's oceanographic FLIP (floating instrument platform) ship is one of the most unique in the world. It is towed out to a research site at
sea, then "flipped" into a vertical position by flooding the back end, as shown here. The ship consists of a 350-foot-long cylindrical tube with
many instruments to take measurements of temperature, salinity, and currents. The crew's quarters in the bow remain above water, and all
equipment and furnishings inside are on swivels so they remain horizontal regardless of the ship's inclination.

grappling devices. Many are capable of operation at great
depths, have produced amazing video shots, and have re-
covered artifacts of sunken ships such as the famous pas-
senger ship Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck.

THE THREAT OF POLLUTION
Htunan beings are consumers of vast quantities of raw
materials and fuels. A tremendous amount of waste mate-
rial results from this use-individual, societal, industrial,
and accidental. A large part of this waste finds its way into
the sea. Fortunately, only a small percentage of this con-
sists of pollutants. Pol/utants are substances that damage
marine processes or cause loss or the resh'icted use of an A Navy trainer attaches a special harness to Tufty, an Atlantic
ocean resource. Some pollutants interfere with the life bottle-nosed dolphin. Instruments attached to the harness measure
Tufty's heartbeat, respiration, and temperature during tests off
processes of marine organisms and reduce biological pro-
California. The dolphin was trained to work with the Navy's Sealab
ductivity of the oceans. Others, including oil and litter, are underwater habitat program.
dangerous to people, interfere with recreational activities,
or detract from the beauty of the seascape.
It is impossible to completely stop pollution of the accept. This depends directly on the amount of money,
oceans. It may be possible to stop pollution of some in- research, and effort people are willing to put into reduc-
land lakes and rivers and to significantly reduce it in oth- tion and control of individual and industrial waste.
ers. But the mere fact that people use raw materials Seven main groups of pollutants presently affect the
makes it impossible to eliminate waste materials. The n1arine environment and cause international concern: (1)
real issue is what level of pollutants society is willing to petroleum; (2) heavy metals; (3) radioactive materials; (4)