Nuclear Reactors 291 - The Story Of The Savannah, The First And Only U.S. Nuclear Powered Cargo Ship
After the end of World War II, the age of the “peaceful atom” started. There were plans for the peaceful use of atomic energy and atomic bombs. Some of these ideas were ridiculous and quickly abandoned. There were suggestions that atomic bombs could be used to dig canals and even frack underground formation to release natural gas. There were plans for nuclear powered airplanes and trains that were abandoned. One idea that stuck was the idea of using small nuclear reactors to power ships and submarines. The Soviet Union launched the Lenin, the first nuclear powered icebreaker in 1957. The U.S. launched the Savannah in 1959, the first nuclear powered cargo ship.
The Savannah was never really intended to turn a profit. It was more of a demo of the possibility of using nuclear power powered cargo ships as well as a promotion of the technological prowess of the U.S. It was a sleek ship with all of the most modern conveniences and was equipped to handle passengers as well as cargo. It cost about fifty million dollars to construct which is equivalent to about three hundred and eighty six million dollars today. For about ten years the Savannah carried cargo and passengers around the world and demonstrated some of the benefits of nuclear propulsion such as a lack of pollution, no need for refueling and no need to take on ballast water to compensate for the weight of the fuel that had been burned.
Although the Savannah could have turned a profit during a time of high oil prices, one of the strikes against it was the low price of oil while it was is service. It also was receiving an annual subsidy from the government of two million dollars a year which would be more like seventeen million dollars a year today. This subsidy became a target for budget cuts. In 1971, the Savannah was permanently retired from service.
Germany and Japan also worked on the development of nuclear powered merchant fleets but such efforts were abandoned by the 1980s. Today, Russia has a single nuclear powered icebreaking cargo ship and six nuclear powered ice breakers. Nuclear propulsion today is mainly used in military applications such as surface ships and submarines.
There is still some interest in the possible use of nuclear powered ships for cargo hauling in view of uncertain energy prices and the increasing cost of operating huge diesel powered ships. Sensitivity to pollution and carbon dioxide emission are also attractive aspects for nuclear propulsion. There have been rule changes for insurance for nuclear powered ships which might work in favor of nuclear powered freighters.
Today, the Savannah is moored at the Canto Marine Terminal in Baltimore, MD where it has remained for 45 years since being taken out of service. All of the fuel has been removed but the reactor is still intact and the ship still has its operational license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. For a few decades, the Savannah was part of the Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum but reverted to the Maritime Administration in 1993.
The Savannah is a national landmark and, as such, it is being preserved. It is still waiting for Congress to vote to fund full decommissioning but there is no sign that Congress is particularly interested in providing those funds anytime soon. For the time being, the Savannah is used for hosting events and meetings.
