N.S. Savannah - a nuclear-powered passenger-cargo ship

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

U.S. Maritime Administration

Introduction.

I have always called this, what I believe is a beautiful looking ship, a “Ship of Fools,” and I am well aware that this may sound rather condescending and I know that there will be those who will attack me for that statement. But let us be really honest with ourselves and stick to the truth and recognise that the nuclear-powered steam ship N.S. Savannah was in reality a failure in many more ways than one and it was a foolish Presidential venture from the very start, as this feature will reveal. Let’s face it, politicians should never involve themselves in these matters for what do they really know about the shipping industry, they are always in a power race, attempting to outdo other nations in the nuclear race, etc., and this was precisely what Eisenhower was doing at the time! This extremely expensive ship for her day carried passengers for less than three years and within ten years from her maiden voyage in 1962 she was already out of service and has been laid up ever since! There is no doubt that she looks ultra modern, elegant and that she was certainly one of the most streamlined ships around and she is still a beautiful to this day. In addition, she had some of the finest passenger accommodations that any ship could possibly offer, but sadly she was a failure from the very beginning, very much like her namesake, a ship that was built in America in 1818, SS Savannah.

The tragic sailing/steamship - SS Savannah built in 1818

The SS Savannah became notable for being the very first steamship in the world to cross the Atlantic Ocean. On May 22, 1819, the Savannah departed on her historic voyage that would take her to England, Sweden as well as to Russia with additional stops in Norway and Denmark and home. However, it would only a fraction of the actual distance of the voyage whilst the ship would be sailing under steam power, for the rest of the time she was under wind power and thus using her sails for the majority of the voyage. Her steam engines drove her two large side paddle wheels. However, in spite of this historic voyage which received great praise in the press in England, sadly the Savannah the steamship was not a commercial success and she was soon converted into a fulltime sailing ship after she returned to the USA from her voyage. The sailing ship Savannah sadly had a short life as was she was tragically wrecked off Long Island in 1821. No other American owned steamship would cross the Atlantic for another thirty years after Savannah’s pioneering voyage.

Yet America’s maritime world did continue to grow and it became famed as a great shipbuilding nation offering the world some of the grandest liners and shipping companies, such as Grace Lines, Matson Lines, and not to forget the grandest of them all the United States Lines who built towards the end of their days the superb SS America and the worlds fastest liner ever the SS United States, a ship that remains with us to this day and is currently being preserved. See: www.savetheclassicliners.com.

The Building of the N.S. Savannah.

Back in 1955 President Dwight Eisenhower proposed the idea of building a nuclear-powered luxury Passenger-Cargo liner to showcase his “Atoms for Peace” initiative. Then in 1956, Congress authorized the building of the now named project “N.S. Savannah”, which would be a joint project between the “Atomic Energy Commission”, the “Maritime Administration” (MARAD), and the “Department of Commerce”. The N.S. Savannah would be designed by George G. Sharp, Incorporated of New York.

Her keel was laid down on May 22, 1958, at the “New York Shipbuilding Corporation” at Camden, in Yard 529. Her nuclear reactor was manufactured by Babcock and Wilcox and her two steam turbines were by the De Laval. She was officially named at the launching by American First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower on July 21, 1959, and she was moved to her fit-out berth where she would remain until December 1961 where she was completed.

Above & Below: American First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower officiates at the launching of the Savannah - July 21, 1959

Upon completion she underwent extensive sea trails which lasted until April 1962 and she was finally officially delivered to State Maine Lines on May 1, 1962. However, she would not depart on her maiden voyage for almost three months. Finally she was ready for her maiden voyage and she departed loaded with passengers and cargo on August 20.

N.S. Savannah seen arriving at Seattle in 1962 for the World Fair

Nuclear Propulsion.

In 1969, The N.S. Savannah became the first nuclear powered ship to dock in New York City. It was a centrepiece for a city-wide information festival called "Nuclear Week" In New York. Thousands of persons toured the Savannah and the other special events of Nuclear Week. These events included demonstrations of advancements in peaceful uses of atomic energy, such as food products purified by radiation, new applications for technology and many information and education programs. The Johnny Carson “Tonight” TV Show featured Nuclear Week in New York on two programs. Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission was the featured speaker and President Dwight D. Eisenhower was honoured for his introduction of the global Atoms for Peace program. The appearance of the Savannah and the Nuclear Week in New York program was designed and implemented by Charles Yulish Associates and supported by contributions from leading energy companies.

Her two “De Laval” Steam Geared Turbine Engines used one “Babcock & Wilcox” Pressurised Water Nuclear Reactor that used Uranium Oxide fuel (4% enriched U-235) developing a reactor rating of 74MW that drove her single screw, which gave her a service speed of 21 knots, but achieved a maximum of 24 knots during her sea tails. The Savannah was built at a considerable cost for the day of US $46.9 million, which included US$28.3 million for the nuclear reactor and fuel core, making her one of the most expensive ships of her time!

An Overall view of the engine room location on the N.S. Savannah

The nerve centre of the engine (control) room! One deck above the “Bull Gear”

A closer view of the Bull Gear – Note the Control room above

The “Bull Gear” is the largest movable (rotating) piece of the ship’s steam turbine drive train except for the propeller. It is mounted between the aft end of the turbines and the propeller shaft/thrust bearing and served as a reduction gear reducing the shaft speed to a nominal 108 RPM. This precision manufactured bull gear has a 13.5 foot diameter and a 34 inch face and weighs in at 66,000 pounds. At 108 RPM, the gear face on the bull gear was travelling at a speed of about 55 miles per hour.

This is what the water reactor looked like.

This is a view from the crows nest located on the mast just forward of the bridge

Note the steam coming from what appears to be a mast atop the bridge

Here we see the unusual refuelling process

N.S. Savannah the Passenger-Cargo Liner.

The Savannah was obviously a political demonstration of the technical feasibility of American nuclear propulsion for a luxury Passenger-Cargo ship, although it had not been expected at large for her to be a commercial success, which soon became rather obvious, for she certainly was not! She was designed to be visually impressive and there was no doubt that she looked more like a sleek luxury yacht, rather than a passenger-cargo ship.

She had seven holds served by three unusual looking “Ebel” rigged self-slewing derricks mounted on lightweight tubular frame “masts.’ Although cargo her capacity was only 8,500 tons of freight in 652,000 cubic feet (18,000 m³), which was considered to be far too small for a ship of her size and the massive crew that had to man her.

However for her passengers, she was blessed with superb public venues having two delightfully decorated spacious and modern lounges, such as a cosy Main Lounge located far forward on Promenade Deck. This room was light and bright and bedecked with paintings on her aft wall and light coloured furnishings on pale grey carpets, with a few blue and fawn settees and lounge chairs adding some colour. Large windows on her three sides overlooked her glass enclosed side and forward promenade deck. In addition the Main Lounge was also equipped with a projection room (starboard aft) and movies would be shown at appropriate times. Aft of this room, but part attached on the portside is the Card Room whilst on the starboard side was the location of the Library and Writing Room followed by the ship’s smallish shop. These venues had a delightful understated elegance, yet there was that exclusive feel about all her rooms that spoke of luxury at its best!

Main Lounge

Far aft is the spacious Veranda Lounge and Bar, complete with a large dance floor in the middle and a Bar located on the portside wall. Unlike the Main Lounge, this room was not carpeted, but had its floor covered in a non-slip blue tilling and the dance floor in white. Furnishings were streamlined and modern in style befitting the day, in white leather as well as blue and white stripe upholstery, whilst the barstools were covered in a red leather. The Veranda’s huge aft facing windows looked out to the swimming pool and Lido Deck. The overall idea of the decorator’s was not to overcrowd this venue and to keep it simple and use just a few splashes on colour and as can be seen no curtains, giving this venue that beach and club like feel.

The Veranda Bar

Down on A Deck far forward starboard side was the hairdresser and the men’s barber, whilst amidships the rather streamlined over modernistic Main Lobby and the Pursers Desk located on the centre aft wall. Personally it was not my favourite feature of the ship as it was rather bland, but when I saw her in Rotterdam Holland, this venue certainly looked far better than in this photograph as the glass display cases on both sides were filled with various items.

The Main Lobby and Pursers Office

In addition A Deck also contained all the ships passenger accommodations consisting of thirty superbly furnished staterooms all having private facilities. Cabins A-01 to A-16 located forward had one berth as well as one sofa bed in the lounge area and a bathroom with a shower, etc. Located along the Main Lobby are two series of cabins - A-17, 19 & 21, and A-18, 20 & 22. These are the suites of the ship which can be sold independently as both A-17 and A-18 are the most spacious rooms on-board. However, as there is a connecting passage between these three cabins on each side of the ship they can also be sold as three roomed deluxe suites. Rooms 17 to 20 have full sized baths, as do rooms 25 to 28 further aft, all other cabins have showers. See the Cabin Plan below for details. However all rooms had a sofa, one or two lounge chairs and as well as a coffee table in the lounge areas, ample wardrobe space and every possible comfort that would be expected on a luxury ship.

A typical cabin, having a bedroom and a lounge

On B Deck there was only one major passenger facility being the modern, blue and white walled and carpeted, with red chairs Dining Room, which had enough room for all passengers in one sitting, although she built to carry just 60 guests this venue could hold more, this was done as at various times the captain and his officers and whilst on goodwill voyages, guests would come aboard and also dine with passengers. This venue featured a beautifully made model of her namesake the 1818 SS Savannah located amidships at the glass entrance. At the end of the room was appeared to be the rooms feature, being a white curved sculptured stone screen that hid the entrance to the galley.

The ships Restaurant – note the 1818 SS Savannah on the right hand side

N.S. Savannah memorabilia - a mug and saucer - provided by John Simpson – Savannah USA

N.S. Savannah ~ Deck Plan

There is no deck plan available for B Deck

N.S. Savannah seen during her earlier days with passengers out on deck

Some will say that the ship was a success and that she performed well at sea and that her safety record was quite impressive. Her fuel economy was unsurpassed and her gleaming white paint was never smudged by exhaust smoke. Even her cargo handling equipment was designed to look good.

However, her life as a passenger ship was sadly a total disaster and a short lived one for she stopped transporting passengers ceased in 1965, this is just three years after her maiden voyage. Thus, was she a success? I would say without any doubt NO she was certainly not, and that she was one of America’s biggest maritime failures and a typical politician’s fancy trying to big note themselves. Politicians do not look into the real picture with any sense of reality, they thought that by going nuclear they were grandstanding, but it failed!

In 1965 the Maritime Administration leased the N.S. Savannah to the “First Atomic Ship Transport Inc”, of the famed “American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines” and they decided that she would no longer carry passengers as she was unsalable and that she be just a cargo ship. Thus Savannah’s sublime and very expensive passenger accommodations were totally wasted. She was placed on the U.S.A., Europe, Mediterranean service and this continued for six years, after which she was laid up in 1971. Although had her design been better she could have gone on, but she was beset with problems.

Summing up the N.S. Savannah.

I was sent the following statement by a good friend in America who found it written on a website regarding the N.S. Savannah … “By many measures, the ship was a success. She performed well at sea, her safety record was impressive, her fuel economy was unsurpassed, and her gleaming white paint was never smudged by exhaust smoke. Even her cargo handling equipment was designed to look good.”

All this may be good and true, but with the author having been the owner of a shipping company, I can tell you nothing said in that statement makes that ship a success, for she was a total financial and a design failure and sadly that a fact and the simple truth as I will comprehensively describe as I continue her story below.

It is sad to say that in truth the beautifully sleek lines of the Savannah did nothing to aid her future wellbeing, as she was a failure and from the very beginning, for she was plagued with a variety of design problems. Obviously passengers were fearful to sail on her, for the very thought of sailing on a nuclear powered ship did not seem to be safest of things to do in the sixties as people did not trust this new technology! In addition there was a massive design error when it came to her overall hull design as the future would comprehensively prove and put her our of business for good, as well as the eventual cost of operation which was mostly due to having to crew the ship with too many mariners. Thus the cost of keeping her sailing was far too great and she could not make a sufficient profit to cover the costs!

One of her major design problems was the fact that Savannah's cargo space was limited to a mere 8,500 tons of freight in 652,000 cubic feet (18,000 m³), whilst other ships of a similar size could carry a great deal more. In addition Savannah’s sleek and ultra streamlined hull may have looked simply superb to all who saw her, but it made loading cargo, especially in her two forward and aft holds extremely difficult and this became a huge disadvantage, especially when ports became more and more automated and all too soon this ultra modern futuristic looking N.S. Savannah had become obsolete, out of date and totally useless in the modern age.

We also need to understand that she had a massive crew, a third larger compared to a regular ship, in addition Savannah’s mariners had to go and study additional highly specialised technology, having already completed all their regular training requirements for their maritime licenses, etc. In addition, the Savannah’s operating budget included the maintenance of special and separate shore organisations for negotiating her port visits as well as a special shipyard facility unique for any needed repairs, and this was something that was not required for any other ship. All this would add massive additional costs.

No ship with these disadvantages could possibly hope to be commercial success. Thus the solution became a simple one, already her once beautiful passenger space was totally wasted since 1965, and already her cargo capacity was insufficient for a ship of her size operating with such a large crew. As a result with her many handicaps the Eisenhower’s pride, the N.S. Savannah ended up costing over US$2 million a year more in operating subsidies compared to a similar sized cargo ship, that was powered by a diesel/motor or turbine steam engine.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) finally had to decommission the N.S. Savannah early in 1972, which was a wise decision because she was losing them massive amounts and she was no longer the ship that was originally intended, the “Pride of America”, a luxury ship transporting 60 happy passengers in luxurious surroundings, for as we know that had turned out to be a total failure and tragically her passenger days ceased back in 1965 after just two and a half or so years a sad failure indeed! One that could have possibly been better far managed had they had the right media team!

As we read earlier in this story, N.S. Savannah’s namesake, the SS Savannah in 1819 became the very first steam powered ship to cross the Atlantic and she was also a commercial failure even though she was innovative when it came to propulsion in her age, indeed she made history, and so it would be for her namesake the N.S. Savannah. The Savannah was officially decommissioned on January 10, 1972, as she was laid up at Savannah, but thankfully it would not be the end of her for thankfully she did have many friends and she survives to this day!

N.S. Savannah - Specifications:

Built: New York Ship Building Co, Camden, USA

Yard Number & launched: 529 – July 21, 1959

Maiden Voyage: August 20, 1962

Decommissioned: January 10, 1972

Tonnage: 15,858 GRT (Gross Registered Tons)

Length: 181.5m - 595ft

Width: 23.8m – 78.1ft

Reactor: Babcock & Wilcox - Pressurised Water Nuclear Reactor

Engine: De Laval - Steam Geared Turbine Engines - 22,000 SHP

Screw: Single

Speed: 21 knots service speed (max 24 knots)

Passengers: 60 First Class

Crew: 124

The Savannah is seen here whilst on display to the public

Savannah the Museum Ship.

When decommissioned, the Savannah was first obtained by the City of Savannah and she was docked at the end of River Street. There were plans for her to become a floating hotel and tourist complex. However, finding investors was difficult and other ideas had to be looked into. For a short period of time during the late 1970s, she was relocated to Galveston, Texas.

Then in 1981, the Savannah was obtained as a bareboat charter for display at the Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum near Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Although the museum had use of the vessel, ownership of Savannah remained with the Maritime Administration and the Patriot’s Point Development Authority had to be designated what is known as a “co-licensee” for the ship’s reactor. Periodic radiological inspections were also necessary to ensure the continued safety of the ship. Once Savannah was open for display, visitors could tour the ship’s cargo holds, view the reactor spaces from an observation window, look into staterooms and passenger areas, and walk the ship's decks.

The museum had hoped to recondition and improve the ship’s public spaces for visitors, but these plans never materialized. Savannah never drew the visitors that the museum's other ships, notably the aircraft carrier Yorktown, did.

When a MARAD inspection in 1993 indicated that the Savannah required dry docking, Patriot’s Point and the Maritime Administration agreed to terminate the ship's charter in 1994. She was moved and dry docked in Baltimore, Maryland in 1994 where some maintenance and any repairs that were required was undertaken, she was then moved to the James River Merchant Marine Reserve Fleet near Newport News, Virginia. It had also been decided to remove her nuclear power plant upon retirement.

Museum Savannah - Images

The following photographs, I have been told, were taken by a Mr. Fred Fry

The Savannah seen fully dressed in flags!

A fine view of her forward superstructure

On the port side wing of the bridge

A view of the bridge

Looking down into the engine room

The Maritime Administration has funded decommissioning and removal of the ship’s nuclear systems. The Savannah had undergone work at Colonna's Shipyard of Norfolk, Virginia, beginning 15 August, 2006. That US$995,000 undertaking included exterior structural and lighting repairs, removing shipboard cranes and wiring, refurbishing water-damaged interior spaces, and removing mould, mildew and painting some of her interiors. Then on January 30, 2007, she was towed to Pier 23, which is owned by the City of Newport News. On May 8, 2008, the N.S. Savannah arrived in Baltimore under tow from Norfolk, for removal of the vessel’s remaining radioactive material. The Savannah is expected to remain in Baltimore for up to 3 years under a $588,380 U.S. Maritime Administration contract with the Vane Brothers’ shipyard at the Canton Marine Terminal in the Canton section of Baltimore.

Since the N.S. 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. A MARAD spokesman told The Baltimore Sun in May 2008 that the maritime agency envisions the ship’s eventual conversion into a museum, but that no investors have yet offered to undertake the project. We are still waiting for a final result on what will happen to the ship, but she was officially declared in 2001 a “National Historic Landmark.”

A beautiful model of N.S. Savannah

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