The American Savannah
Van Stoom tot Atoom, 1961. Text G.A.J. Bovens-drawings G.J. Frans Naerebout
An item referred to a statement of John Hughes-Hallett (1) on behalf of the British Ministry of Transport that for time being England would not built a nuclear propelled merchant ship despite the strong wish of the parliament.(2) At first was thought of a 20.000-30.000 tons tanker but other countries had already such a ship (the USA had the Savannah) or were developing plans. Hughes-Hallett claimed that the yet available kern reactors were not economic profitable for merchant ships and proposed to wait for the results with the American Savannah.(3)
Notes
1. Vice-admiral John Hughes-Hallett (1 December 1901-5 April 1972), after his naval career officer he became after 1954 Member of Parliament and between 1961-1964 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport for Shipping and Shipbuilding .
2. Never realized. The first British nuclear submarine was HMS Dreadnought (S101), laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom on 12 June 1859, launched on 21 October 1960, commissioned on 17 April 1963 and decommissioned in 1980.
3. First American nuclear merchant ship was the Savannah, building ordered in 1955, launched by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, USA with yard number 529 on 21 July 1959, completed in December 1961, maiden voyage begun on 20 August 1962 and decommissioned on 10 January 1972. IMO 5314793, cal sign KSAV.
