NS SAVANNAH

In 1955, President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower proposed building a nuclear powered merchant ship. The next year, Congress authorized NS Savannah as a joint project of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Maritime Administration, and the Department of Commerce. She was designed by George G. Sharp, Incorporated, of New York City. Her keel was laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, New Jersey. Her nuclear reactor was manufactured by Babcock and Wilcox. She was launched on March 23, 1962, sponsored by First Lady of the United States Mamie Eisenhower as a showcase for President Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace initiative.

The Maritime Administration has funded decommissioning and removal of the ship's nuclear systems at Colonna's Shipyard of Norfolk, Virginia beginning 15 August 2006. Since the NS Savannah is historically significant and has been designated a National Historic Landmark, MARAD has expressed interest in offering the ship for preservation once Savannah's DDR (Decommissioning, Decontamination and Radiological) work is completed.

General characteristics

* Displacement: 22,000 tons
* Length: 596 ft (180 m) overall
* Beam: 78 ft (23.8 m)
* Complement: 124 crew, 60 passengers
* Cruising Speed: 21 knots (40 km/h)
* Top Speed: 24 knots (47 km/h)
* Power: 74 MW, 20,300 hp to a single propeller
* Load carrying capacity: 14,040 tons
* Watertight compartments: 14
* Loading spaces: 6
* Reactor Manufacturer: Babcock & Wilcox
* Builders: New York Shipbuilding, Camden, NJ
* Cost: $46,900,000 ($18,600,000 for the ship, and $28,300,000 for the nuclear plant and fuel)
* Range: 300,000 miles at 20 knots on one single load of 32 fuel elements.


SOURCE:Wikipedia

Other Info:
US Gov't Virtial Office of Acquisition
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission