FIRST OF ATLANTIC WEATHER SHIPS READY

Chronicle (Levin), 5 August 1947, Page 5

FIRST OF ATLANTIC WEATHER SHIPS READY

m Received Monday, 7 p.m. LONDON, August 4. Dritain is first in the field with a weather ship for gathering meteorological data in the Atlantic. Undef a recent agreement ten nations are cooperating in the provision of 13 weather ships to be stationed in van ous parts of the Atlantic at fixed points. Thev will make upper air observations and send out radio reports at regula: intervals. They will also ptovidt navigational aids for aircraft in difficulties and be prepared to assist iu rescue work. The ships are to be painted a conspicuons yellow so that aircraft in distress conld alight on the sea near at hand. Britain is providing four ships, the first of which is now ready for sailing. She was formerly a Flower class corvette. She is renamed ' ' Weather Ob server. " T\Vo will always be at their stations while the ofli&rs will be in liarbour. Oue s^htion will be roughly 250 miles south of Iceland and the otiigr 300 niile'S west of Ireland. Altogether thefe will be 26 ships and half of them will be at their stations simultaneously. United States is providing seven ships and France one. The remainder will be provided jointly by Canada aua United States, Belgium, Holland and United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden. Normally the ships will spend 27 days at sea and 15 in port.