Nuclear Ship Savannah - What's New

A lot has happened since our last update in January. Savannah completed a very successful dry-docking period in late March; and remained at the BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair yard in Norfolk throughout April and the first week of May, while our General Agent, Keystone Shipping, contracted for a long-term lay-berth. After evaluating the bids received, Keystone awarded the contract to Canton Marine Terminals, a unit of the Vane Brothers Company in Baltimore. With options the lay-berth contract extends for three years.

Some of the highlights of the dry-docking availability included the following:

• The ship’s entire exterior surface was prepared and re-coated. The above-water livery (color scheme) was applied based on contemporary 1959 documents and color charts discovered through archival research.
• The ship’s external and internal structure was thoroughly examined, and generally found to be in excellent condition. Repairs that had been made to the underwater hull in 1994 were found to be intact, and no significant new repairs were required. To improve the performance of the cathodic protection system, the ship’s propeller was removed. We capped the tail shaft and stern tube.
  
• Surveys and inspections were conducted to bring the ship back into classification with the American Bureau of Shipping.
• A number of improvements were made to support lay-berth operations. Among these were the fitting and installation of a stores davit and hatch, asbestos removal and remediation, access and egress modifications, and rehabilitation of public spaces.
  
• Miscellaneous preservation activities included the removal of the deteriorated ceramic tile and concrete deck coverings on the Promenade Deck, including the two shuffle board courts. The tile was retained. These deck coverings had been penetrated by water, and the removal was necessary to allow inspection, repair and coating of the steel decks.
  
• The removed ship’s propeller was placed on the number seven cargo hatch where it can be seen during tours and events.
• The ship’s bell was installed on the after cargo truss, where it is now a featured part of public ceremonies and activities.

The Savannah arrived at the Baltimore lay-berth facility on May 8, 2008. Almost immediately preparations commenced for a major event; the May 22, 2008 observance of National Maritime Day; and the fiftieth anniversary of the ship’s keel-laying ceremony. To commemorate these events a crew and program reunion was planned. This was the fourth reunion for the crew; the others were in 1983, 1992, and 1999.  Many activities took place over the two-day reunion program.  More than 250 people were onboard the ship on May 22, and about 200 were onboard on May 23.  One highlight of the May 22 activities was the dedication of a new display featuring the ship’s historic marker plaques.  Each plaque was rededicated by a representative of the organization that originally named the ship as a landmark; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; the American Nuclear Society; and the United States National Park Service. Massachusetts Maritime Academy provided an honor guard for the festivities.  Many other organizations, vendors and individuals contributed to the success of the event.

The Savannah Technical Staff and the ship’s crew are now settled into routine operations in Baltimore. The principal focus of our activities is to complete our administrative and technical license compliance tasks, and to execute the engineering and planning activities necessary to bring the Savannah into conformance with contemporary Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements for nuclear facilities in retention (SAFSTOR). On July 9, 2008 the agency held a public information meeting at the Canton Branch of the public library to discuss these activities in detail. The Maritime Administration also published an Environmental Assessment and corresponding Finding of No Significant Impact that describe these activities in great detail. These and other Savannah documents will be made available in the near future; in the meantime, copies of these documents can be provided upon request (see our FAQs to request documents).