UNDERSEA FREIGHT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 9

UNDERSEA FREIGHT

Plan For Oil Tankers

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 8. The United States and Britain already are doing preliminary research on nuclearpowered cargo submarines which could follow the trailblazing Nautilus through the new underwater north-west passage.

Two American companies— General Dynamics Corporation and Aerojet-General Corporation —have been hired by the Government to find out whether submarine tankers offer a chance to speed the flow of oil around the world at less cost. Several British companies also are working on tanker submarines.

Some scientific prophets have forecast the day when nuclearpowered cargo submarines will cross the seas by remote control —without a living person aboard.

The American Associated Press said that development work now in progress indicated that the first commercial submarines would be tankers. Research was concentrated in this field because of the vital need to transport oil safely in wartime. The British were thinking in terms of undersea tankers displacing 100.000 tons and travelling at 50 knots or more, the news agency said. Such a vessel would be as. large as the biggest super tankers now planned and would dwarf most cargo ships. A speed of 50 knots would be more than twice that of most vessels and would compare x&ith a top speed of abput 30 knots for the fastest ocean liners.