26/02/2026
Nuclear Power in Malmö, Sweden
On September 6, 1964, the people of Malmö flocked to the harbor to set foot on the deck of the N/S Savannah, the world’s first nuclear-powered cargo and passenger ship.
Savannah docked at a quay at Kockums Shipyard. The oil tanks in the background belonged to the old oil harbor in Malmö, which at the time was located within the shipyard area. Hall 5 and Dock 14 were later built there.
At 182 meters long and equipped with a 74 MW nuclear reactor, N/S Savannah was the United States’ and President Eisenhower’s showcase for the “Atoms for Peace” campaign.
But the project was a failure. After her maiden voyage in 1962, Savannah carried passengers for only three years. Despite being fitted out like a luxury cruise ship—with dining rooms, dance halls, a swimming pool, and several bars—she attracted a total of only 848 passengers willing to live in luxury with a nuclear reactor beneath their feet.
Savannah cost an astonishing $47 million to build ($19 million for the ship and $28 million for the reactor) and was extremely expensive to operate. Her crew of 124 was one-third larger than that of conventionally powered ships and required not only maritime experience but also specialized training to operate a nuclear reactor.
As a result, Savannah was taken out of service and permanently laid up in 1972.
During the “Atoms for Peace” campaign, N/S Savannah visited 45 ports outside the United States and was viewed by 1.4 million interested visitors.
Australia, New Zealand, and Japan never allowed Savannah to dock in any of their ports.
Photo: Arvi Kaaman.
