(3) Harbor.
(a) General. When the port repair ship enters the harbor, her master reports to the port commander for instructions. These instructions include—
1. What jobs the ship is to do and what priorities have been set on them.
2. What materials, equipment, power, tools, and personnel the ship is to furnish the port construction and repair group.
3. Whether temporary construction or repairs are to be made or permanent repairs made.
4. Surveys to be made of underwater damage and obstructions in harbor area.
(b) Removal of small sunken craft and debris. Small boats usually are sunk alongside wharves and quays to prevent ships from approaching close enough to unload. Also, cranes and sections of the wharves blown into the water have to be removed. Divers examine the debris and determine whether it can be pulled out of the way into deeper water or if it first must be broken up. Since the use of large quantities of explosives may further damage adjacent quays and piers, debris too heavy and bulky to hoist and drag is cut into smaller sections by underwater cutting. Then these sections are raised by the cathead and pulled out of the way by the ship. Small, sunken craft often can be salvaged by sealing up the hulls and pumping out the water with salvage pumps. This type of salvage work can be done from the 50-ton barge which leaves the repair ship free for other jobs.
(c) Furnishing materials, power, and equipment.
1. Materials. Materials required by the port group to start its work can be furnished in limited quantities by the repair ship. However until cargo ships can unload at the port, the group must get locally the bulk of the materials it needs. The small amount of cement, timbers, and structural steel that the ship carries can be put ashore on the ship’s barge.
2. Power. Until local sources of power are restored or floating power plants are available, power for lighting and for operating equipment is supplied by the ship’s stationary and portable generators and compressors.