3. Equipment. Such portable equipment as the clamshell bucket, welding and cutting outfits, trailer-mounted fire pumper, and pneumatic tools, is turned over to the group as it is needed. If necessary, equipment operators are furnished from the ship’s personnel.
(d) Use of the ship’s shops. The ship’s shops are used to make parts for and to repair port machinery and equipment. Typical jobs are to repair engines and motors and to construct or repair cargo-handling equipment.
(e) Underwater construction and repairs. The ship’s divers may be required to repair the underwater structures of damaged piers and quays. Broken or weakened pilings or timbers may have to be cut and removed so new ones can be placed. Also, the foundations of harbor breakwaters or sea walls may require strengthening or repairs.
c. Safety of ship. While operating in the close waters of the harbor, especially while threatened with the additional hazards of debris, mines, underwater obstacles, and enemy air attack, the safety of the ship is of paramount importance. The master of the ship is responsible for her safety. He sees that the gun crews are at their stations and that enough deckhands are available for the extra work required in mooring and maneuvering.
d. Summary. Speed is essential in port repair work to eliminate the necessity of landing troops, stores, and equipment over beaches for any length of time. The engineer port repair ship has an important part in getting this work started by opening the harbor to navigation and by furnishing power, equipment, and supplies to the port construction and repair groups. The shops on the ship help prevent stoppages caused by breakdown of machinery and equipment because they can repair or manufacture essential parts that may be needed. In short, the port repair ship is the spearhead in getting port reconstruction work under way and, by its ability to do many different tasks, helps to speed up this work and keep it going.
☆ U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1945—628131—TM 1045
Transcriber’s Notes:
The original spelling, hyphenation and punctuation has been retained, with the exception of apparent typographical errors which have been corrected.