MANHTTAN'S ARCTIC VENTURE; A SEMI-TECHNICAL HISTORY

The conversion of the 106,000-dwt Manhattan in 1969 to enable her to undertake icebreaking experiments in the Canadian Arctic was described in one subsequent book as "the most extensive and enterprising shipbuilding endeavor in the United States since World War II." This paper describes the basic purposes and results of the project which led its sponsors to conclude that it had been successful and might someday lead to the introduction of economic year-round Arctic marine transportation. A major portion of the paper covers technical features of the conversion of the Manhttan into an icebreaking tanker. In conclusion there is a summation of the authors' reasons for believing in the feasibility of year-round Arctic marine transportation and identification of areas believed most in need of research and development for the future.