The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-07-31
BONNER'S SPEECH
AT LAUNCHING OF
SHIP SAVANNAH
Chris+ened by Mrs. Eisenhower Is
First Nu-Clear Powered
Merchant Ship

sponsor and First Lady, Mrs.
Dwight D. Eisenhower-Mr. Secre-
tary-Mr. Morse-Mrs. McCone,
and representatives of the Govern
mental Departments-my distin-
guished colleagues in the Congress
of the United States-members of
the Diplomatic Corps-friends of
the American merchant marine
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t is with the greatest pleasure
and pride that l am privileged to
be here today to take part in the
launching of the MS SAVANNAH,
the worlds first nuclear-powered
merchant ship.
It is inspiring, indeed, to stand
iere-a little more than a year
since the laying of the keel of
this great ship-and witness the
fulfillment of dream made posi-
BILE through the imagination, the
slills and the energy of Americans
from all walks of life. 1t is incredi-
BILE to contrast this magnificent
work of the mind and hand of man
with the single steel assembly that
was laid in place on this shipway
ON Maritime Day, 1858, to mark
our first step into the nuclear age
on the Seven Seas.
The dynamic development of the
idea of adapting peaceful use of
the power of the atom to merchant
shipping is equally incredible.
We have known that nuclear
energy could be adapted to ship
propulsion ever since the SUBJ
sasarine NAUTILUS proved to be
such a tremendous success. But
snany were skeptical about moving
ahead with a merchant ship proto-
type until years of experience with
shore based plants might indicate
immediate efficiency and economy.
The first proposal to build an
etomic-powered merchant ship
gave no thought to the advance
ment of our merchant marine. 1t
would have been a floating show
case of nuclear devices demonstra-
ting peaceful uses of atomic ener-
gy in other fields.
AS the idea grew, those of US
responsible for the maintenance
and development of an adequate
American merchant marine under
our national policy urged that we
take the idea a step further and
build a brand new vessel, especially
designed in both hull and ma
chinery, to secure the maximum
advantage from this promising new
source of power and from which
we could learn how to build and
operate efficient, working ships for
the merchant marine of the future.
Thus, it was, that the authorizing
legislation passed by the Congress
and approved by the President in
1856 directed the construction of
a practical merchant ship, powered
by an advanced type of reactor,
especially designed for the pur-
pose. The President, the Congress,
the Government Departments, and
the maritime and atomic energy
industries, have every right to
feel great pride and satisfaction in
the part they have played in the
construction of this new vessel. AL
a'eady, Lessons learned in the crea-
ton of the MS SAVANNAH are
showing the way to the design and
production of fully competitive
merchant ships many years earlier
than ever thought possible.
Last year, standing in this same
spot, l reviewed the unfortunate
history of the old SIS SAVANNAH.
which more than 100 years ago
was the first steamship to cross
the Atlantic Ocean. l pointed out
at that time how this country had
llshered in the age of steam on the
seas, and then, through failure to