NS Savannah
In October 2025, Central Midwest Compact Commissioners Chen and Roy attended the
Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) Forum Fall Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. As part
of the agenda, the Commissioners toured the NS Savannah.
The NS Savannah holds a significant place in maritime history as the world’s first
commercial nuclear-powered vessel. Created under President Eisenhower’s
Atoms for Peace program and commissioned in 1959 by the United States
Maritime Administration, Savannah represented a remarkable achievement in
engineering and innovation during the Cold War era.
Designed for civilian use, the ship demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes. Its nuclear propulsion system enabled extended voyages without
refueling, highlighting unparalleled endurance and efficiency. Although service was
discontinued in 1971 after fulfilling its mission, renewed interest in zero-carbon
emission shipping may one day revive the vision pioneered by the Nuclear Ship
Savannah.
News from the University of Illinois
The IMDP is progressing toward a Construction Permit Application (CPA) with the NRC and
continues site characterization work supporting the NANO KRONOS microreactor effort.
- Focus areas include project development and NRC pre-application engagement.
- CPA review is expected to take about 18 months; operating license comes later.
- Site investigations include deep soil core sampling and geotechnical/seismic analysis.