Help Us Save the NS Savannah
The NS Savannah is the last remaining piece of President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace program. She was the world’s first civilian nuclear-powered merchant ship, carrying cargo and passengers around the world and being a showcase for United States technology.
President Eisenhower mandated that the ship be visually impressive, and she sure is.
The ship was built as a joint project of the US government Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the now-Department of Energy. She is still owned by the Maritime Administration, and licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She is a National Historic Landmark and an International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
After almost a decade of work, MARAD is nearly finished decommissioning the ship’s former nuclear power plant. Once NRC reviews and approves the final radiological surveys, they will terminate the ship’s license - sometime near the end of 2026. This work was carefully planned and implemented to improve the ship and make the reactor compartment accessible to the public - complete with preserved components and mockups of removed items.
Once the license is terminated, MARAD is free to dispose of the ship. They have anticipated this, and for years have been promoting the ship for preservation, and setting the stage to convey the ship to an organization that can be her home and caretaker. Failing that, it is likely the ship will be scrapped.
MARAD has been a good steward of the ship - so much so that they received the 2025 Maryland Preservation Award for Outstanding Stewardship by a Government Agency. Over the past 15 years, the reactor and some associated equipment have been removed in a historically sensitive manner. The propulsion plant has been cleaned and retained. The result is the only pressurized-water reactor in the world that the public can tour.
The ship has been regularly dry-docked, and the hull maintained. She is in tremendous shape, not showing her age at all.
Volunteers from the NS Savannah Association have worked with the Maritime Administration staff and contractors, restoring spaces within the ship and providing interpretive tours to small groups. The response of tour participants is always resoundingly positive.
When the NRC nuclear license is closed out, the Maritime Administration intends to dispose of the ship. As noted, the hope is that she can be transferred to an organization who can continue to display her to the public. She is a unique and irreplaceable example of American engineering and design excellence.
The Plan
The NS Savannah Association is preparing a proposal to the Maritime Administration to take ownership of the ship. The ultimate goal is that she be permanently docked in an easily accessible location and open to the public as a museum and event space. At this point, Baltimore is the preferred location for the ship.
What We Need
There is much work to be done. The Association will only propose to take ownership if we believe we have the support, infrastructure, and financial resources necessary to make it a success.
We need people who can help with:
-
Social media outreach
-
Fundraising
-
Legal
-
Experience with museum operations
-
In-kind donations for the potential move of the ship
We’ll also need more money than we currently have to successfully become the proper caretakers of this amazing ship.
What Can You Do?
If you have expertise in any areas that might help secure the future of the ship, please reach out to us at the email address below. If you have contacts who might be helpful, again please contact us. We know the ship can be successfully saved if we can bring the right folks together. We just need to find them.
Of course saving the ship will also require money. The NS Savannah Association is a 501(C)(3) Nonprofit. We are relying on your support. You can make a donation by clicking the button below.
Thank You
We intend to save this ship for future generations. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Contact us at: sos@ns-savannah.org