B-144734, FEB. 7, 1961
Highlights
WAS MADE BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT TO COVER HARBOUR AND PILOTAGE FEES AND CHARGES FOR THE REMOVAL OF RUBBISH INCURRED BY THE TWO VESSELS DURING THIS PERIOD. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY ADVISES THAT THE NAVY COMPTROLLER MANUAL PROVIDES IN PARAGRAPH 046395 THAT "WHEN A BILL IN AN AMOUNT LESS THAN 2000 BRITISH POUNDS IS RENDERED BY THE BRITISH ADMIRALTY. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE IN ONE LUMP SUM UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK.'. AN ADMINISTRATIVE EXAMINATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE THAT SUCH SERVICE WAS EVER RENDERED ON BEHALF OF THE TWO NAMED VESSELS. ALL OFFICERS AND LEADING PETTY OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE COMMAND OF THE RESPECTIVE VESSELS DURING SAID PERIOD WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY SUCH SERVICE AND THE QUARTERMASTER'S NOTEBOOK AND DECK LOGS FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE U.S.S.
B-144734, FEB. 7, 1961
TO THE DIRECTOR OF NAVY ACCOUNTS, ADMIRALTY OFFICES:
WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 9, 1960 (REF. D.N.A. 6A (8IIIB), WITH ENCLOSURE, REQUESTING REVIEW OF THE SETTLEMENT OF NOVEMBER 2, 1960, WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM FOR L 12 7S.6D., ALLEGED TO BE DUE FOR THE USE OF A 15 TON CRANE IN BELFAST HARBOUR AT AIRPORT WHARF, ON BEHALF OF THE U.S.S. CHARLES S. SPERRY AND THE U.S.S. BENHAM, ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1957.
THE REPORT RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY REVEALS THAT THE U.S.S. CHARLES S. SPERRY AND U.S.S. BENHAM VISITED BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND DURING THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 14, 1957, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 17, 1957. PHOTOSTATIC COPIES OF BILLS SUBMITTED BY THE BELFAST HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1957, SHOW THAT A LUMP SUM PAYMENT OF L 112 4S. 1D, WAS MADE BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT TO COVER HARBOUR AND PILOTAGE FEES AND CHARGES FOR THE REMOVAL OF RUBBISH INCURRED BY THE TWO VESSELS DURING THIS PERIOD. IN THIS RESPECT, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY ADVISES THAT THE NAVY COMPTROLLER MANUAL PROVIDES IN PARAGRAPH 046395 THAT "WHEN A BILL IN AN AMOUNT LESS THAN 2000 BRITISH POUNDS IS RENDERED BY THE BRITISH ADMIRALTY, PAYMENT WILL BE MADE IN ONE LUMP SUM UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK.'
YOU SUBSEQUENTLY BILLED THE U.S. NAVY DEPARTMENT FOR L 12 7S.6D. COVER THE USE OF A 15 TON CRANE OPERATED BY THE BELFAST HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS AT AIRPORT WHARF, BELFAST, ON BEHALF OF THE U.S.S. CHARLES S. SPERRY AND U.S.S. BENHAM. HOWEVER, AN ADMINISTRATIVE EXAMINATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE THAT SUCH SERVICE WAS EVER RENDERED ON BEHALF OF THE TWO NAMED VESSELS. ALL OFFICERS AND LEADING PETTY OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE COMMAND OF THE RESPECTIVE VESSELS DURING SAID PERIOD WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY SUCH SERVICE AND THE QUARTERMASTER'S NOTEBOOK AND DECK LOGS FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE U.S.S. BENHAM ALSO FAIL TO REVEAL THE USE OF THE SUBJECT CRANE.
THIS OFFICE DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM ON THE BASIS THAT UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS FAILED TO OFFER ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE SERVICES IN QUESTION WERE RENDERED. YOU NOW ADVISE THAT THE CRANE WAS ORDERED AND SIGNED FOR BY LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER GRIMWOOD, ROYAL NAVAL AIRCRAFT YARD, SYDENHAM, BELFAST, ON BEHALF OF THE ADMIRALTY AND THAT IT WAS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBJECT VESSELS, BETWEEN THE HOURS 10:30 P.M. AND 11:30 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1957. CONSEQUENTLY, NO CHARGE FOR ITS USE WAS FURNISHED TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
IT STILL REMAINS, HOWEVER, THAT UNITED STATES NAVY RECORDS DO NOT OFFER ANY SUBSTANTIATION OF THE REFERRED TO SERVICES. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE THE CLAIM FOR PAYMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THE SETTLEMENT OF NOVEMBER 2, 1960, MUST BE SUSTAINED.