under   COMNAVSEASYSCOM,   the   DPD   has   the following   responsibilities: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Prepare  equipment  nomination  reports  to  add approved equipment to the DART program. Recommend   to   CNM   the   approval   or disapproval  of  nominations  for  new  DART equipments. Recommend to CNM that he remove equipment from the DART program list when SYSCOM or PM recommend and justify removal. Brief  CNM  and  the  executive  director  for  DART quarterly on the status of the DART program and DART  equipment. Disseminate the initial and quarterly update of each   approved   equipment   approvement program. SYNOPSIS OF DART IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM  PROGRESS This section is addressed to the engineer officer and discusses some of the more important DART programs now  in  operation.  You  can  find  additional  information about other DART programs in the current quarterly progress report on improvement programs for DART equipment. THE 1200 PSI BOILER PROGRAM This program has been designated as the No. 1 fleet material  problem.  The  major  problems  are  premature failure  of  boiler  components,  unreliable  boiler  controls and instrumentation, lack of operational experience, inadequate   maintenance   equipment,   poor documentation,  and  lack  of  spare  parts.  The  program covers over 90 ships and about 375 boilers. All 1200-psi boilers  and  related  equipment  and  the  feedwater  and combustion  control  systems  are  included.  We  have started some corrective action to reach some short-, intermediate-,  and  long-term  goals.  These  will  reduce the material condition index, average repair time, and average time awaiting parts. The  milestones  that  show  slippage  are  mostly caused  by  funding  delays  or  a  temporary  lack  of manpower, but we are making satisfactory progress. Most  procurement  actions  are  now  in  the  contracting stage  and  several  contracts  have  already  been  signed, Ninety percent of the RDT&E efforts are now working. We have completed many SHIPALT proposals while others are in process and probably will be completed shortly. PMS-301, the 1200-psi steam propulsion plant project office, has assumed management control of this DART  program. THE FIRE PUMP IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM The  goal  of  this  program  is  to  increase  the reliability of fire pumps on all surface ships and the time needed to repair them. Most of the problems are in maintenance rather than design. Because fire pumps are used in severe and continuous service, a comprehensive maintenance  program  is  required.  We  plan  corrective action  to  increase  parts  support  at  the  stocking activities, fill onboard allowance lists, and gradually upgrade pump-part material. We will measure success in  terms  of  increased  operating  time  between  failures and less time waiting for parts. THE  AIR  COMPRESSOR  IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM This  program  covers  about  3500  ship’s  service  air compressors  in  the  active  fleet.  The  problems  are recurring failures, high repair cost, repeated overhaul, and logistic problems in getting repair material. The principal  causes  are  obsolescence,  mandatory maintenance  requirements  to  prevent  fires  and explosions, severe duty cycles, short compressor life, and  shortage  of  replacement  compressors  and  parts.  To correct  the  problems,  we  plan  to  replace  obsolete  and defective   compressors   earlier   and   to   correct deficiencies in design and material support. We are continuing   research   and   development   and standardization work that produces useful elements that we key into the compressor improvement program. We are  getting  replacement  compressors  at  no  cost  to  the fleet.  We  hope  the  TYCOMs  will  bear  the  installation costs. THE  FORCED  DRAW  BLOWER PROGRAM This  program  covers  about  2000  forced  draft blowers in the active fleet. The problems are recurring failures, high cost of repairs, and erratic performance of controls. The principal causes are difficulty in making repairs,   high   cost   of   maintenance,   and   lube   oil contamination of vertical barrel-type blowers. Also, we have  identified  various  design  deficiencies  in  the control  and  lubrication  systems.  We  are  finding  specific deficiencies,  and  we  are  developing  and  implementing corrective actions at a rapid pace. The program provides 7-18