In the 1950s were Dutch merchant shipping companies interested in the nuclear propelled concept. The Stichting Kernvoortstuwing Koopvaardijschepen wished to use such a tanker as a floating laboratory to get the necessary experience and knowledge needed for this kind of propulsion. In the organisation participated the Dutch merchant shipping companies, shipyards and further more T.N.O., R.C.N. and the T.H.
The idea was to charter a common turbo electric tanker of around circa 18.00 tons deadweight. Amidships was the reactor positioned and which was to cooperate with or without the originally machinery. This was to done to have all times a working machinery. The idea however was to use more and more the reactor as power source. Totally estimated costs were around 16 million Dutch guilders including around 8,5 million for reactor and so on, 3,5 million for converting the ship and the purchase of and fitting out with the turbo generators and 4 million as reserve for purchase, conversion and exploitation. The expectation was that the annual exploitation costs (including a scientific staff) a commercial nuclear propelled tanker were around 700.000 Dutch guilders more than for a conventional propelled tanker. There were two designs, neither was ever built.
Net register tonnage 6.154 tons, gross register tonnage 10.296 tons, deadweight 16.616 tons and as dimensions 503.0 (between perpendiculars)-523.6 (over all) x 68.0 x 39.3 x 30.2 feet. Fitted out with 1 generator, 1 main engine, 2 boilers pressure 450 psig, temperature 730 degrees Fahrenheit and production 44.436 lbs/hr was the expected horsepower 6.000 (90 rpm)-6.300 (93 rpm) shp.
Source
Archive shipyard Kon. Mij. De Schelde 1875-1970 inventory number 214.265 (Town Archive Vlissingen, Netherlands).
