Savannah (ship)
The Savannah was the first commercial nuclear-powered cargo ship, constructed by the U.S. government to promote President Dwight D. Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" initiative. Designed to demonstrate the viability of nuclear energy in commercial shipping, the vessel featured a 20,000-horsepower nuclear engine that enabled it to reach speeds of up to twenty-seven knots and circle the globe fourteen times without refueling. The ship was not only technologically advanced but also boasted luxurious amenities, including staterooms, a dining area, a movie theater, and a swimming pool for guests. Despite its innovative design and capabilities, the Savannah faced operational challenges due to high costs associated with specialized crew training and infrastructure needs. Ultimately, it was decommissioned in 1972 as part of budget reductions. The legacy of the Savannah lies in its role in showcasing the potential for peaceful nuclear energy applications, marking a significant moment in maritime history.
Savannah (ship)
Identification Nuclear-powered merchant ship built by the U.S. government
Date Launched on July 21, 1959
Place Camden, New Jersey
The world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship, the Savannah was a creation that proved to be technically brilliant but commercially unsuccessful.
The U.S. government, in order to highlight President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s international “Atoms for Peace” initiative, built the Savannah with the expressed goal of promoting the use of nuclear energy through joint ventures between government and industry. Another objective of building the Savannah was to prove that nuclear reactors rather than oil-driven engines should power commercial ships.
The Savannah was a marvel of the sea-lanes for its sleek appearance and technical brilliance. It was a fast ship; its 20,000-horsepower nuclear engine gave it a top speed of twenty-seven knots. It could circle the earth without refueling fourteen times at a speed of twenty knots. Officials in the shipping industry took demonstration cruises in order to experience firsthand the virtues of a nuclear-powered ship. The ship had thirty elegant staterooms, a dining facility, a movie theater, and a swimming pool to accommodate guests. Visitors flocked to greet the ship at its ports of call.
Impact
Despite its advanced features, the Savannah ultimately proved too expensive to operate. Expenses accrued from specialized training of the crew, use of cargo space for guests, and specialized docking facilities and spare parts. The government decommissioned the ship in 1972 as part of budget-cutting efforts. Despite the ship’s retirement, the Savannah helped prove to the world that the United States was committed to using atomic power for peaceful purposes and showed that a nuclear reactor could be used to power a commercial ship.
Bibliography
Crouch, Holmes F. Nuclear Ship Propulsion. Cambridge, Md.: Cornell Maritime Press, 1960. The author points to reasons why nuclear power can benefit merchant ships. Officials in the nuclear industry put forth these same arguments today.
Villars, Alan. “Aboard the N.S. Savannah: World’s First Nuclear Merchantman.” National Geographic, August 1962, 280-298. The author was a passenger on the Savannah during its sea trials. He provides a glowing description of the future of nuclear power in merchant ships.