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Reserve ship to be decommissioned
NS Savannah of "Atoms for Peace" campaign may become a museum

By DAVE SCHLECK
247-7430

November 22 2004, 1:59 PM EST

FORT EUSTIS -- Work will begin early next year to remove the nuclear reactor from a James River Reserve Fleet ship hailed as the first nuclear vessel built for a commercial purpose.

Over the weekend, Congress approved $2 million for the first phase of decommission work on the NS Savannah -- NS stands for "Nuclear Ship." Launched in 1959, the Savannah doubled as a cargo ship and diplomatic vessel during its time at sea, visiting 20 states and 22 foreign countries.

Joe Seelinger, the ship's nuclear engineer in 1964, helped lead a media tour of the Savannah this morning and recalled visiting cities like Oslo and Copenhagen.

"When we'd get into port, they'd have tall ships sailing around us," Seelinger said. "There were lines of people that seemed a mile long, waiting to go on the ship. They really did a good job promoting us."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower championed the ship as part of the "Atoms for Peace" campaign to show that nuclear power had the potential to be peaceful and productive.

The ship's nuclear reactor was shut down in 1975, when the government removed all nuclear fuel, cooling water and other contaminated materials. But the reactor remains in the ship. The first phase of the decommissioning work will involve assessing what's left on the ship and developing a plan to remove it.

The Maritime Administration wants to spend about $25 million over five years to fully decommission the ship.

Seelinger, who retired from the administration about a year ago, said he is working with several people interested in preserving the ship as a museum.
Copyright © 2004, Daily Press

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Still a beautiful ship, and a nice concept. Back to it's place of birth, JimBull?

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"It's time to matter."

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