ats
arcs
ina U. S. merchant ship, which ship might travel throughout
the free world to dramatize the U. 5. program for developing
peaceful uses of atomic energy."
On October 15, 1956, the President directed the Maritime Admihistration end the Atomic Energy Commission to proceed as rapidly as possibic
with design and construction of the first nuclear powered merchant shin.
The
reactor system for this ship will be of @n advanced pressurized water dpsicr,
end negotiations are ccmpleted with the Eabcock and Wilcox Company to bpild
the nuclear propulsion plant, 20,000 shaft horse-power, on a lunp-suwi basis.
ane Ship itself will te a combined pessenger-cargo trpe 5°C5 Peet in Lenbtz,
76 foot beam,
ion fcr the
and with = capacity for carrying some 100 vissengers.
desimm of the vessel is neering completion.
A
MNbpeotia-
Yard Survey
peard kas completed « review cf shipyards qualificc anc interested.in the
coustruction of the ship.
It is estimates. thet the vessel will stend TF
to sec in Fy 1960.
Preliminery studiss indicate that application of nuclear energy
to the propulsion of tankers offers early achievement of econoric operaticn.
All promising systems are now wiier intensive study.
In adiition, design
and Seasibility studies are under wey for the selection cf more advanced
systems.
A sScudy of the operational problems associated with nuclear pdwered
mercrent ships is now under way.
Preliminary discussions have been held
with the Navy, Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and other governmental
and private groups concerned with the proaren.
*.
RESEARCE REACTOR ASSISTANCE
Nsc_5507/2, narazranh 20:
"Initiate a program of aid in
construction cf research reactors in selected countries,
under ‘Agreements for Cocperation' whicn will cover
msc 5507/2
Part III