A
new computer system has been designed to stop ships sinking. The greatest danger
to a holed vessel is that flooding of its compartments will make the
{{U}}(51) {{/U}} unstable enough to capsize. It is estimated that nearly
half the ship {{U}}(52) {{/U}} during the Second World War capsized
because of loss of {{U}}(53) {{/U}}. Pacer System of
Burlington, Massachusetts has now refined a system devised by a reserve U.S.
Navy officer, Stephen Drabouski. The computer is programmed with every possible
eventuality of flood damage. Once the actual damage is keyed into the computer
the operator is told by the computer {{U}}(54) {{/U}} the implications
are—and what can be done to re-establish the vessel. Trials on
the American aircraft carrier USS Midway have {{U}}(55) {{/U}} that the
re action time to damage can be cut to a fiftieth. An incident was simulated in
which the ship was {{U}}(56) {{/U}} by two Exocet missiles causing
flooding to 30 {{U}}(57) {{/U}} receipt of the flood damage information
in the damage control centre to a full printout of damage, effects,
{{U}}(58) {{/U}} countermeasures and an assessment of the result of the
countermeasures. In a re-run of the incident {{U}}(59)
{{/U}} the computer program the damage control officer took four and a
quarter hours to establish the effects, of the damage and another four hours
{{U}}(60) {{/U}} a decision could be taken on countermeasures.
Although the system can be used to provide {{U}}(61) {{/U}}
control officers with advice, they do not, of course, have to {{U}}(62)
{{/U}} the information. Quite often the " {{U}}(63) {{/U}} solution"
will be unacceptable for operational reasons. When that happens the system can
be asked for alternatives or the operator {{U}}(64) {{/U}} interrogate
the computer to find out what would happen if the officer's {{U}}(65)
{{/U}} solution was put into action.