The World’s First Nuclear Merchant Ship – NS Savannah

Share On Facebook Published: July 13th, 2010 by John Konrad

The Nuclear Ship Savannah

The United States first and only Nuclear powered merchant ship was designed in hopes of finding peaceful uses for Nuclear energy as part of the Atoms for Peace program. President Eisenhower had the ship built in the late 1950s at a cost of $46.9 million, which included a $28.3 million nuclear reactor and fuel core. At 596-feet-long she was the pride of the fleet with sleek lines like that of an oceangoing yacht. During her short 5 years of service (1965-1970) she saved over 29 million gallons of fuel oil but her high maintenance cost led to her downfall. In 1981, the Savannah was brought back to her cold war glory by re-activating her as a museum ship offering Americans a glimpse into the atomic age. Visitors could walk the ship’s decks and even tour the reactor from an observation window as well as look into staterooms and passenger areas but in 1994 the charter was terminated. The Maritime Administration, who is responsible for overseeing the Savannah, had the ship moved to Baltimore where she remains under a 3 year, $588,380 U.S. Maritime Administration contract with the Vane Brothers’ shipyard at the Canton Marine Terminal. Once the Savannah’s DDR (Decommissioning, Decontamination and Radiological) work is completed the U.S. Maritime Administration plans to eventually donate the famous maritime relic as a museum or public attraction.

Interesting Facts

  • She produced nearly $12,000,000 in revenue, real money back then.
  • She sailed over 450,000 miles in her five years of merchant service (1965 to 1970).
  • She required a crew of more than 100 mariners.=
  • The Army considered using her as a power plant to be used during national emergencies.
  • She is being reconditioned primarily due to post 9/11 security concerns.

NS Savannah Documentary – Once Upon A Nuclear Ship

More videos and photos of the beautifully designed NS Savannah ship:

Nixon’s Moscow Mission; Nuclear Ship Comissioned 1959/7/23

2) NS Savannah nuclear ship commissioned, christened by Mamie before 15,000 spectators, cost $41 million (partial newsreel)

N/S Savannah Underway

N/S Savannah with tugs

N/S Savannah underway

A Look At Her Reactors

N/S Savannah cut-out view of reactors
Maintaining Savannah's Nuclear Reactors

Photos Of Her Today

N/S Savannah 2006

Other Nuclear Merchant Ships

N/S Otto Hahn
Germany’s N/S Otto Hahn

Russian Nuclear Drillship Sevmorput
Russia’s 1988 Nuclear Cargo ship and now drillship N/S Sevorput

Japanese Nuclear Ship
Japan’s 1969 built N/S Mutsu

Nuclear Icebreakers

Russian Nuclear Icebreaker
Russia has built a number of modern nuclear icebreakers including the Yamal.

Links:

Related Posts:

Topic: History · Interesting · Nuclear · Photo · Science · Ships

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This Article Was Written By John Konrad
Captain John Konrad is co-founder of Unofficial Networks and Editor In Chief of this blog. He is a USCG licensed Master Mariner of Unlimited Tonnage and, since graduating from SUNY Maritime College, has sailed a variety of ships from ports around the world.John currently lives in Morro Bay, California with his wife and two children.

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  • Sent in by "Domer":

    MARAD recently submitted their FY10 budget to Congress

    The budget request also includes $3 million in funding to continue nuclear
    license management for the inactive Nuclear Ship SAVANNAH.

    "Ship Disposal
    MARAD maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) as a reserve of ships for defense
    and national emergencies. When ships are no longer considered useful for defense or aid
    missions, the Maritime Administration serves as the U.S. Government's agent for their
    responsible disposal. MARAD continues to pursue alternative disposal methods, such as
    artificial reefing initiatives, with other Federal agencies to minimize impact on the human and
    natural environment. The budget request also includes funding to continue nuclear license
    management for the inactive Nuclear Ship SAVANNAH. The FY 2010 request includes $15.0
    million, no increase over the FY 2009 enacted, to continue to remove obsolete ships from the
    NDRF for disposal. The budget request also includes $3 million in funding to continue nuclear
    license management for the inactive Nuclear Ship SAVANNAH"


    Although it was the first US Flag Merchant nuclear ship, none others have been built here in the United States and to date nuclear energy has not been a viable alternative to carbon based fuels for ships. Three million is not much in the big scheme of US Government spending but personally I think that $3 Million in funding could be better spent else were, like improving Merchant Marine training at the State Academies, or perhaps not spent at all.
  • Glenn Fiscus
    John, The Savannah stuff is 50 or so years old, so we're talking 70+ year olds. The project was milestone effort of noble, but many faceted purpose. Would like to know what remains of those associated with the endeavor? Glenn Fiscus
  • Sally Rock-Blake
    My father, Harvey Rock, (deceased), worked for Babcock & Wilcox and helped design the reactor. My siblings and I went to the christening. One of his colleagues was Don North. Anyone have any knowledge of these two? I'd esp. like to know more about the patent and his part in it. Thanks
  • Ivan
    interested in buying.
    who knows the owner of this ship?
  • guest
    interested in buying.
    who knows the owner of this ship?
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