4 ms·
Why can't we make these ships run on nuclear reactors? Technically it should be possible and the only hold up is money or am I missing something?
by sschueller 8y ago
Why can't we make these ships run on nuclear reactors?
Technically it should be possible and the only hold up is money or am I missing something?
- manfredo 8y agoMy understanding is that nuclear maritime power would be widely used were it not for the public perception of nuclear power as an unstable and dangerous source of power. Consider the fact, though, that the US Navy is the largest user of nuclear power if measured by number of units, and has operated these units without significant incident for over half a century.
- lolc 8y agoFor those wondering what "for over half a century" means: 1968 the nuclear submarine USS Scorpion sank and hasn't been recovered. It's certainly debatable whether the current use of heavy oil in shipping is preferable to nuclear power. However I find it highly doubtful the civil sector could replicate the impressive track record of the US navy regarding operating nuclear reactors on ships and submarines.
- PhantomGremlin 8y agoIt's been done as an experiment. The economics are a bit nuanced. The information is many decades out of date. Still, food for thought ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Savannah#Economics_of_nuclear_propulsion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Savannah#Economics_of_nucle...