NS SAVANNAH: Atoms for Peace (1962)

http://www.nssavannah.net/
4601 Newgate Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224

I've read a few descriptions of the NS SAVANNAH that characterize her as a beautiful ship, but an economic/social/political failure. I think those claims are unfair. She was designed and built with the knowledge that she would not be profitable and would require some form of government subsidy to operate. You can't fault her for that. Her primary purpose was to serve as an ambassador for the peaceful use of nuclear power. I'd call her a success as she was toured and visited by people the world over during her brief career. It makes no difference to me if her cargo capacity was dwarfed by conventional ships or if her passenger spaces spent more time empty than occupied. In the end she proved that a nuclear powered civilian ship was feasible -- even if it never turned out to be desirable.