Using Commercial Tankers and Containerships for Navy Underway Replenishment

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Using Commercial Tankers and Containerships for Navy Underway Replenishment

K. I. Robinson

The Navy has been looking at alternatives to building additional support ships. Navy design ships are very capable and very expensive. Commercial design ships could save considerable amounts of money. But the operational differences must be taken into account. The modified commercial ships could be used in two different roles. They could be used for 'wartime augmentation' of existing Navy forces when emergency needs arise. Or the modified commercial ships could be used as full 'peacetime substitutions' for additional Navy support ships. The study concluded that there were deficiencies in the commercial ships which could not be overcome within the guidelines of the study. The modified tanker had less speed and lower transfer times than the Navy AO. The modified containership had severe safety and cargo transfer problems compared with the Navy AE. However, these commercial ships also represented savings of at least 23 percent in 30 year procurement and operating expenses (dollars are discounted at 10 percent over 30 years). The study did not attempt to weigh the deficiencies against the savings.