N/S Savannah Museum Ship (Baltimore, Maryland)

 place with historical importance, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, atomic power engineering, museum ship

The N/S Savannah was built in 1959 at New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, and when she launched she was the world's first nuclear powered commercial cargo ship. Intended to be the first in a fleet of nuclear cargo ships, the Savannah was eventually joined by just two other nuclear powered ships worldwide. Though she operated for many years without significant incident, she proved to be too expensive to operate in the long term when compared to conventionally powered ships, and after only 8 years in service she was deactivated into reserve.

Starting in 1981, the Savannah became a museum ship at Patriots Point in Charleston, SC, where she remained until 1994 when inspections revealed her hull would require a costly drydocking. Returned to MARAD custody in 1995, she remained in the James River Reserve Fleet until 2006 when she was removed for nuclear defueling and refurbishment for her eventual use as a museum ship in Baltimore. After a layover at Colonna Shipyards for some exterior and interior refurbishment, the Savannah departed for Baltimore where the remainder of her reactor compartment has been sealed off and any remaining nuclear fuel or contaminated surfaces were either removed or mitigated.

With her yard period nearing its completion, MARAD is actively searching for investors or non-profit groups to purchase or lease the Savannah for use as a museum ship, befitting of her place in US and world maritime history. It is now docked at 4601 Newgate Avenue in Baltimore, MD 21224.

www.ns-savannah.com/