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CHAPTER II, SECTION 5

SECTION 5
SCIENTIFIC STRUCTURES
STATION 10 - ZERO STATION (BARGE)
SITE FLORA CRATER - USER: DIRX
GENER.’.L. In the original plan for the Operation, H& N was advised that barges with a
stabilized platform to support certain scientific
equipment would be required. Tests were conducted at the planned location to determine the
characteristics of a 500-ton barge, both in regard to pitch and roll as well as anchorage. The
first criteria. which covered the loading of the
barges, were received on 15 January 1953. On 6
February 1953, H&N recommended using a
500-ton open lighter «ype barge and a sketch
was submitted showing the load capacities and
draft characteristics. On 27 March, H& N was
instructed to purchese four 500 - ton barges.
These barges (for Stations 10, 30, 40 and 90)
were made available by the Commander, JTF 7
and accordingly were not purchased by the Contractor. Large stable platforms (with the limits

of stability desired) could be constructed in

lieu of barges but the costs would have been
prohibitive and the advantages not commensurate. The barge stability and acceleration tests
continued at Jobsite until 22 May.
Station 10 was erected on a steel flush-deck
cargo type non-propelled barge 120 feet long,
33 feet wide and 585 tons displacement. This
Station consisted mainly of a steel frame super-

structure supporting a platform deck approximately 33 feet wide by 44 feet long and located
20 feet above the barge deck. Scientific equipment \.as installed on the barge deck and in
various areas on the platform deck. The area
beneath the platform was enclosed by plywoodsheathed stud walls with a top connection designed to permit vertical deflection of the platform framing without inducing loads on the
studs. Living quarters were provided on the
barge deck and consisted of a single story woodframe building with plywood sheathed stud walls
and a composition roof carrying a Navy cube
for water supply. Reinforcement of the deck was
required, both in the area beneath the hatch
and at the winches. Sidewall reinforcement was
added to some of the more heavily loaded columns. Thirty-two thousand pounds of coral
ballast were required in the hold to balance

the superimposed loads.

MECHANICAL. Two 1 1/2-ton jib cranes. a 4
ton bridge crane and four gasoline engine-driven
anchor winches were procured and installed. A
750-gallon diesel fuel oil tank was provided and
included with the necessary equipment for the
living and messing quarters.
*

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$334,707
4 283,018
32
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Figure 2-70.
Page 2-86

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ELECTRICAL. Powe: was supplied by two portable 30KWdeisel engine generators. The design
contemplated that both generators would be in

Stations 10 and 40 at Barge Slip

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