Nuclear Ship Savannah, Various Ports operated by the U.S. Maritime Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

The ship was documented in two locations. Dry dock photos were taken in Norfolk, Virginia, and in-water photos were taken while berthed at Canton Marine Terminal in Baltimore, Maryland.

Significance: As stated in the N.S. Savannah National Historic Landmark nomination, the ship is significant as the world's first application of nuclear power to a commercial ship; and as the structure most associated with President Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace initiative. The combination passenger/cargo ship demonstrated to the world the safe and reliable operation of this new technology, resulted in the establishing of a nuclear ship training program for civilian crew members, established procedures for commercial nuclear ships to enter domestic and foreign ports, and identified a series of issues which would require resolution in a second generation of commercial nuclear ships (disputes over crew pay scales, liability, and commercial viability). In addition to its important role in maritime history, Savannah served a unique public relations role as a floating exhibit on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

In recognition of the significance of this vessel, the Savannah has been designated a National Historic Landmark, an International Mechanical Engineering Landmark, and a Nuclear Engineering Landmark.

Survey number: HAER DC-64

Building/structure dates: 1958-1961 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 2008 Subsequent Work

maritime nuclear power cargo ships nuclear reactors propellers allis chalmers manufacturing company american export isbrandsten lines atomic energy commission babcock and wilcox company bethlehem steel company brian clayton todd croteau delaval steam turbine company general electric inc george g sharp historic american engineering record erhard koehler j lawrence lee new york shipbuilding corporation philadelphia gear works sperry piedmont company state marine lines todd shipyard corporation u s maritime administration westinghouse electric and manufacturing company photo nuclear ship savannah various ports maritime administration manufacturing plants washington dc electrical diagrams technical diagrams technical drawing engineering diagrams cargo ship library of congress architectural diagrams

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

https://www.loc.gov/

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