REACTOR DEVELOPMENT
MARITIME REACTORS (UNCLASSIFIED)
NS Savannah,
Over-all construction of the ship including its propulsion system was 24
percent complete on September 30, Although fabrication of components was somewhat behind
schedule, the delays encountered were not serious, and the project {s expected to be substantally on schedule by the end of December. Fuel loading 1s to take place in January 1960,
Operational avzilability is to follow within the same year after tests and sea trials have been
performed.
Construction of the propulsion system, which is the responsibility of the AEC, was 28 percent complete. Nuclear testing of the first fuel element, fabricated by Babcock & Wilcox, was
begun in the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor in August. A panel of specialists in the fields of
physics, reactor technology, controls and safety, metallurgy, and instrumentation reviewed the
power plant design. The conclusions were favorable, but further work was initiated to simplify
the control roz drive system, the water purlfication system, and the control console, Fabrica-
tion of long lezd time {tems for the nuclear propulsion system progressed satisfactorily.
Construction of the ship, except for the propulsion system, is the responsibility of the
Maritime Adrinistration, and was 19 percent complete.
Announcement was made on July 25 of the selection of States Marine Lines to serve as
general operating agent for the Savarnah during the initial operating period. Babcock & Wilcox
began the training of the icensed engineers. Two test boilers are to be installed in the ship to
provide emergency power during startup and sea trials. The equipment is to be removed after
the nuclear power plant has been fully tested, and will be used for similar purposes in later
nuclear-powered merchant ships.
Maritime gas-cocled propulsion system. Research work on the maritime gas-cooled propulsion system indicated that the primary coolant will be either helium or carbon dioxide, and
that the moderator will probably be graphite. Under a subcontract being negotiated with General Dynamics Corporation, Westinghouse Electric Corporation proceeded with the preliminary
design of the rotating machinery. Westinghouse also began an evaluation of the properties in
both helium and carbon dioxide environments of the most promising materials for this
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machinery.
Boiling =ater reactor system. The General Electric Company completed a preliminary
design study of a 22,000-shaft horsepower boiling water reactor system for installation ina
T-5-type tanker of approximately 22,000 dead-weight tons. The study was being evaluated for
possible aprlication to a larger propulsion system for a larger tanker which would be more
nearly competitive with conventional tankers.
Symposium, The 1958 Nuclear Merchant Ship Symposium, held on August 21 in Washington, D. C., was attended by approximately 700 people representing both the maritime and
reactor fielais. The proceedings are to be published by the AEC Technical Information Service
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Extension.
Ecornc=ic and engineering analysis of nuclear-powered merchant ships. The contract with
the Americzn Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corporation for an economic and engineering
analysis of suclear merchant ships was extended to cover an additional nine tanker sizes. The
initial stucs had already covered the economic characteristics of 72 ships, including such
types 2s ta~kers and dry cargo vessels.
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DOE ARCHIVES
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A contract for the construction of a nuclear-
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Guided Miseile Destroyer Reactor (DLG(N)),
powered destroyer (DLG(N)), which will utilize two DIG-type reactors, was awarded to Bethlehem Steel Company. (End of gamma section.)