| A new computer system has been designed to stop
ships sinking. The greatest danger{{U}} (21) {{/U}}a holed vessel is
that flooding of its compartments will make the ship unstable enough to capsize.
It is estimated that nearly half the ships{{U}} (22) {{/U}}during the
second world war capsized because of the loss of{{U}} (23)
{{/U}}. Pacer systems of Burlington, Massachusetts, has now{{U}} (24) {{/U}}a system devised by a{{U}} (25) {{/U}}US Navy officer, Stephen Drabouski, which effectively thought out alternative strategies for the ship. The{{U}} (26) {{/U}}is programmed with every possible eventuality of flood damage.{{U}} (27) {{/U}}the actual damage is keyed into the computer the operator is told by the computer{{U}} (28) {{/U}}the implications are and what can be done to destabilize the vessel. Trials on the "American aircraft carrier USS Midway" have{{U}} (29) {{/U}}that the reaction time to damage can be cut to a fiftieth. An incident was simulated in which the ship was{{U}} (30) {{/U}}by two missiles causing flooding to 30 compartments. It took 10 minutes{{U}} (31) {{/U}}receipt of the flood damage information in the damage control center to a full printout of damage effects,{{U}} (32) {{/U}}countermeasures and an assessment of the result of the countermeasures; In a re-run of the incident{{U}} (33) {{/U}}the computer program the damage control officer took four and a quarter hours to establish the{{U}} (34) {{/U}}of the damage and another four hours{{U}} (35) {{/U}}a decision could be taken on counter measures. {{U}}(36) {{/U}}the system can be used to provide damage control officers with advice, they do not, of course, have to{{U}} (37) {{/U}}the information. Quite often the"{{U}} (38) {{/U}}solution" will be unacceptable for operational reasons. When that happens the system can be asked for{{U}} (39) {{/U}}or the operator can interrogate the computer to find out what would happen{{U}} (40) {{/U}}the officer's own solution was put into action. |