Merchant shipping

Launched ia 1959, N. A. Savannah operated very weU. Starting ia 1962, it made a goodwill voyage around the world. It was able to travel a distance of several times the earth s circumference on one fuel loading. However, the ship was not competitive economically with oil-powered merchant ships. The shielding was quite adequate, so that the reactor was safe. Nonetheless the vessel was opposed by antinuclear groups and the N.A. Savannah was eventually retired and put on display ia Charleston, South Carolina. In 1994, the ship was transferred to Norfolk, Virginia, to be held ia reserve. 

Nuclear Merchant Ships, Maritime Transportation Research Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., 1974. 

SI 1997/2367 Marine Pollution - Merchant Shipping - Safety - The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods... 

Most ships are powered by thermal power plants, including diesel engines, gas turbines, and nuclear systems. Merchant ships usually have diesel engines, while gas turbines or a combination of diesel engines and gas turbines often power naval vessels. Some of the larger ships in the U.S. Navy have nuclear power plants. 

NS Savannah launches it is the first nuclear-powered merchant ship. 

Wood is one of the oldest constructional materials. Historically it was important in world exploration and trade, and the defence of that trade, in the provision of merchant ships and navies. It was also important in the early days of railway engineering and in building construction. Although in many applications wood has been replaced by other materials, this renewable resource now supports the growing industries of manufactured wood products. Prominent amongst these are the panel materials chipboard, flake-board, strandboard, plywood and blockboard, hardboard and softboard, wood-cement products and the products of the very large pulp and paper industries. 

For the majority of merchant ships, which dry-dock at intervals of about 12 to 18 months, the conventional paint-formulations containing simple triorganotin additives are quite satisfactory, and provide adequate protection over this period. However, giant tankers involve capital investment that runs into millions of pounds, and their economical... 

Cruisers were required to impose the blockade of Germany, although much of the work of boarding and checking merchant ships in northern waters was done by auxiliary armed boarding vessels. Indeed, the Tenth Cruiser Squadron patrolling the waters between Scotland and Norway... 

Howland, J. et al., Effects of low-dose alcohol exposure on simulated merchant ship piloting by maritime cadets, Accid. Anal. Prevent., 33, 257, 2001. 

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