Next Sunday is National Maritime Day, when the entire universe celebrates the usefulness of shipping vessels all around the universe! And Baltimore’s Canton Marine Terminal (Pier 13, 4601 Newgate Ave) will have a special “exhibit” on display with tours next Saturday, May 21st from 10am-4pm, and a party too – the N.S. Savannah (along with a bunch of other boats, natch).
The N.S. Savannah is one of America’s greatest, and ultimately strangest, Merchant Vessels – one of only four nuclear powered cargo vessels in the world, christened by Marnie Eisenhower at the end of the 1950s. The ship itself was built during Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” initiative (oh how positively 50s) and has had quite the illustrious career. Here are some bullet points:
- She produced nearly $12,000,000 in revenue, real money back then.
- She sailed over 450,000 miles in her five years of merchant service (1965 to 1970).
- She required a crew of more than 100 mariners.
- She cost $46,900,000 ($18,600,000 for the ship, and $28,300,000 for the nuclear core) when built in 1959
- The Army considered using her as a power plant to be used during national emergencies.
Five years of service huh. Welp, anyway if you’re into giant ass boats I’d recommend checking it out, it’s truly a unique opportunity!
I am into giant ass boats. I’m bummed to be missing this.
I am also into giant ass boats. I’ll take pictures for you.
Yeah do it! Put em on the flickr and give you some mad props