Machinery access changes the labour required for routine inspections. A visible inspection point can need one person, while a covered position above an engine can need two people and additional preparation. An illustrative three-watch calculation across four machinery spaces reduces the requirement from 96 people to 72 when each space needs six people per watch instead of eight. Amazon and Ambuscade actually carried roughly the same complement of 138. Amazon's easier maintenance instead improved availability and reduced time in dock during long deployments. That advantage did not last throughout her life because heavier use wore other parts of the ship.
Notable Point · 38:19-42:04
Easier machinery access reduces maintenance workload
A hypothetical watchkeeping calculation explains how accessible machinery can save labour; Amazon used that advantage to improve availability with a similar crew.