Le BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY. MEMORANDUM DATE: March 22, 1979 To: E. P. Cronkite 3 FROM: H. S$. Pratt | 2° 4-08 sugJEcT, Summary of the Problems Encountered in the January-February 1979 BNL Marshall Island Medical Survey % € As you requested at our meeting this morning, WL have prepared a summary of some of the more serious deficiencles in the logistic support provided for 4 the Marshall Island program during our recent survey. - I feel the primary con~ cern for BNL involves the safety of the scientific party and the_gdministrative/ public relations postu é eanography (Lictanur Operator) in relation to the Departmen i . In the area of maritime problems/ship safaty, the following items were of particular importance: 1. There were no fire extinguishers in the medical berthing area. 2. Egress from the overcrowded medical berthing area led through 2 single, heavy, watertight hatch into the x-ray/laboratory area (a high hazard area - containing high voltage and flammable chemicals), up a ladder forward into the forecastle, and-then aft onto th well deck. Since there is no outside ventilation provided to the berthing area, a fire in either hold number one or number two would have quickly led to asphyxiation of the scientific team. 3. The single, watertight hatch leading from hold number two to hold number one was heavy, and swung violently with pitching and rolling of the ship. There was no provision for securing this hatch in the open position until a jury-rigged line was attached to the adjacent bulkhead. 4. Throughout the entire cruise, no organized safety drill or instructions were given by the ship to the medical party. We were not informed as to where the life belts were stored nor how to use the life raft (many of the medical tean were weak or non-swimmers). : 5. The outboard passageways, both port and starboard on the main deck level required climbing over a totally-exposed fore and aft ladder with no safety lines 6. From the habitability standards, the enclosed pictures of the bunking, areas demonstrate the extreme crowding. The bunk beneath the air conditioning unit was repeatedly drenched with cold water if the ship were rolling at all.