diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.C
index 9eaf99c801..25137d47e2 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.C
@@ -24,53 +24,39 @@ License
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-#include "OSspecific.H"
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-// Construct from List
 template <class Type>
 Foam::SortableList<Type>::SortableList(const UList<Type>& values)
 :
-    List<Type>(values),
-    indices_(values.size())
+    List<Type>(values)
 {
     sort();
 }
 
-// Construct from List by transferring
 template <class Type>
 Foam::SortableList<Type>::SortableList(const xfer<List<Type> >& values)
 :
-    List<Type>(),
-    indices_(values->size())
+    List<Type>(values)
 {
-    List<Type>::transfer(values());
     sort();
 }
 
 
-// Construct given size. Sort later on.
 template <class Type>
 Foam::SortableList<Type>::SortableList(const label size)
 :
-    List<Type>(size),
-    indices_(size)
+    List<Type>(size)
 {}
 
 
-// Construct given size and initial value. Sort later on.
 template <class Type>
 Foam::SortableList<Type>::SortableList(const label size, const Type& val)
 :
-    List<Type>(size, val),
-    indices_(size)
+    List<Type>(size, val)
 {}
 
 
-// Construct as copy.
 template <class Type>
 Foam::SortableList<Type>::SortableList(const SortableList<Type>& lst)
 :
@@ -85,29 +71,38 @@ template <class Type>
 void Foam::SortableList<Type>::setSize(const label newSize)
 {
     List<Type>::setSize(newSize);
-    indices_.setSize(newSize);
+    indices_.setSize(newSize, -1);
+}
+
+
+template <class Type>
+void Foam::SortableList<Type>::clear()
+{
+    List<Type>::clear();
+    indices_.clear();
 }
 
 
 template <class Type>
 void Foam::SortableList<Type>::sort()
 {
+    // list lengths must be identical
+    indices_.setSize(this->size());
+
     forAll(indices_, i)
     {
         indices_[i] = i;
     }
 
-    // Foam::sort(indices_, less(*this));
-    Foam::stableSort(indices_, less(*this));
-
-    List<Type> tmpValues(this->size());
+    Foam::stableSort(indices_, typename UList<Type>::less(*this));
 
+    List<Type> lst(this->size());
     forAll(indices_, i)
     {
-        tmpValues[i] = this->operator[](indices_[i]);
+        lst[i] = this->operator[](indices_[i]);
     }
 
-    List<Type>::transfer(tmpValues);
+    List<Type>::transfer(lst);
 }
 
 
@@ -120,7 +115,6 @@ void Foam::SortableList<Type>::operator=(const SortableList<Type>& rhs)
     indices_ = rhs.indices();
 }
 
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.H
index b2ac5eefcb..69360d0058 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/SortableList/SortableList.H
@@ -60,44 +60,22 @@ class SortableList
         //- Original indices
         labelList indices_;
 
-
 public:
 
-    // Public classes
-
-        //- Less function class used by the sort function
-        class less
-        {
-            const UList<Type>& values_;
-
-        public:
-
-            less(const UList<Type>& values)
-            :
-                values_(values)
-            {}
-
-            bool operator()(const label a, const label b)
-            {
-                return values_[a] < values_[b];
-            }
-        };
-
-
     // Constructors
 
-        //- Construct from List, sorting the elements.
-        //  Starts with indices set to index in argument
+        //- Construct from UList, sorting immediately.
         explicit SortableList(const UList<Type>&);
 
-        //- Construct from tranferred List, sorting the elements.
-        //  Starts with indices set to index in argument
+        //- Construct from transferred List, sorting immediately.
         explicit SortableList(const xfer<List<Type> >&);
 
         //- Construct given size. Sort later on.
+        //  The indices remain empty until the list is sorted
         explicit SortableList(const label size);
 
         //- Construct given size and initial value. Sort later on.
+        //  The indices remain empty until the list is sorted
         SortableList(const label size, const Type&);
 
         //- Construct as copy.
@@ -112,10 +90,20 @@ public:
             return indices_;
         }
 
-        //- Size the list. If grow can cause undefined indices (until next sort)
+        //- Return non-const access to the sorted indices. Updated every sort.
+        labelList& indices()
+        {
+            return indices_;
+        }
+
+        //- Size the list. Growing can cause undefined indices (until next sort)
         void setSize(const label);
 
+        //- Clear the list and the indices
+        void clear();
+
         //- (stable) sort the list (if changed after construction time)
+        //  also resizes the indices if required
         void sort();
 
     // Member Operators
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H
index 94f157bb54..bd586ce67e 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/UList/UList.H
@@ -92,6 +92,26 @@ public:
         //- Declare friendship with the SubList class
         friend class SubList<T>;
 
+    // Public classes
+
+        //- Less function class that can be used for sorting
+        class less
+        {
+            const UList<T>& values_;
+
+        public:
+
+            less(const UList<T>& values)
+            :
+                values_(values)
+            {}
+
+            bool operator()(const label a, const label b)
+            {
+                return values_[a] < values_[b];
+            }
+        };
+
 
     // Constructors
 
diff --git a/src/decompositionAgglomeration/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C b/src/decompositionAgglomeration/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C
index 08b5952952..d940e3f3bf 100644
--- a/src/decompositionAgglomeration/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C
+++ b/src/decompositionAgglomeration/decompositionMethods/simpleGeomDecomp/simpleGeomDecomp.C
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose(const pointField& points)
     sort
     (
         pointIndices,
-        SortableList<scalar>::less(rotatedPoints.component(vector::X))
+        UList<scalar>::less(rotatedPoints.component(vector::X))
     );
 
     assignToProcessorGroup(processorGroups, n_.x());
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose(const pointField& points)
     sort
     (
         pointIndices,
-        SortableList<scalar>::less(rotatedPoints.component(vector::Y))
+        UList<scalar>::less(rotatedPoints.component(vector::Y))
     );
 
     assignToProcessorGroup(processorGroups, n_.y());
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ Foam::labelList Foam::simpleGeomDecomp::decompose(const pointField& points)
     sort
     (
         pointIndices,
-        SortableList<scalar>::less(rotatedPoints.component(vector::Z))
+        UList<scalar>::less(rotatedPoints.component(vector::Z))
     );
 
     assignToProcessorGroup(processorGroups, n_.z());