the NS Savannah

The Savannah passes under the Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco, in 1962. Both photos: US Government

The N in NS stands for "Nuclear": this was the world's first nuclear powered cargo-passenger ship. Conceived in the 1950s as part of US President Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" program, the NS Savannah was designed, constructed and operated as a joint research and development project of the US Maritime Administration and the Atomic Energy Commission. MARAD's contribution was the ship, the AEC's was the reactor and related nuclear systems. The reactor was first brought to power in 1961, with seagoing trials following in 1962. The AEC ended its participation in the project in about 1965, transferring liability and title of the reactor to MARAD.

NS Savannah was operated in experimental and commercial demonstration service throughout the 1960s. Having completed its research and development objectives, the ship was removed from service in 1970. When alternative uses for the ship failed to materialize, its nuclear power plant was defueled, partially decommissioned, and prepared for long-term lay-up under contemporary best practices.

The ship is now laid up and a designated National Historic Landmark.  More info and pics on the MARAD website