American Leadership In Seagoing A-Power

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 17

American Leadership In Seagoing A-Power

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON. Nov. 12. America has produced the first economic nuclear power plant for ships which could eventually make the United States fleet the largest and most powerful in the world, says Lloyd’s list. Surprisingly, British marine engineers appear to know little or nothing of this fascinating, imaginative and massive project. One major American owner is considering purchasing four 22-knot nuclear-powered cargo ships for use between the United States west coast and India. Americans have developed alloys for fuel cans which will operate satisfactorily for years at temperatures up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit and light water has been successfully adapted as a moderator. Steam has been substituted for air in the coolant and thus doubled the power output of toe system without further modifications. The American reactor is about 35ft high, 18ft in diameter. and weighs 400 tons For assembly it is broken into units and the maximum lift is 100 tons. Congress is about to allot 15 million dollars for the manufacture of the first marine prototype, and approval for the first ship’s set

is expected within the next few months. The British Government, the British Atomic Energy Authority, and British engineers have been debating the possibilities of nuclear power in ships for over a decade, and so far all the proposals have been rejected as being either uneconomic or impractical. The Government has promised to decide this year if a nuclear-powered British merchant ship shall be built If one is built the present level of knowledge and expertise in Britain will limit her to being equipped with a water-type reactor which is

known to be markedly more expensive both in the first cost and in fuel than conventional oil-fired plant. The situation in America is the absolute opposite of toe indecision and procrastination which is characterising the development of nuclear power plants for ships in Britain. The United States has been working for the last 14 years on the design of economic nuclear power planta for ships. This policy may eventually make the United States fleet the most powerful and toe largest in toe world, says Lloyd’s list.