Advantages:
- Cut on the costs of oil based fuel
(Life expectancy of a nuclear fuel charge – 10 to 20 years);
- Decrease of overall costs;
- Increase of ship speed without an increase of fuel spending;
- Raising the standards of the crew employed in the mechanical department;
(if you put an sloppy crew on a nuclear ship than you are headed for troubles)
- Decrease on size of the machinery compartment;

Disadvantages:
- An increase on building costs, but with an obvious gain in construction quality;
(the design/construction standards must be high, and high construction standards never hurt nobody)
- Bigger expanse with the training of the crew;
(once they start working they start paying themselves, also the better is the training the better is the crew)
- Possible prohibition of entry on some harbours, or entry with high restrictions;(that would imply an change in mentalities)

So, think about this and try to answer this question with sincerity: Would you take your family to cruise on a nuclear powered cruise ship?

Yes, I would cruise on a nuclear ship if I thought that it would be safe - but can nuclear power be safe?

The fact that Governments try to 'cover-up' nuclear leaks and accidents convinces me that it is not managed safely or honestly. Can we trust Governments and Companies to put nuclear safety before profit - I think not!

No one can predict how many lives Chernobyl cost? The nuclear fallout spread around the globe. The fallout reached the pastures as far away as Scotland (UK) and probably got into the food chain in many other countries too. That's not just "Hype", it's a fact.
In maybe 20 - 30 years we will see a rise in cancers caused by radiation - but no one is likely to admit it.

Nuclear energy may be clean, but the nuclear waste lives on forever! All sources of energy pollute. But ask yourself this, would you want to live next door to a reactor?

But my friends we must all remember that oil will not last forever.

It was a cruise, if not a cruise ship: I spent two days and a night a couple of years ago on board the nuclear powered aircraft carrier DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER cruising off the East Coast as a guest of the US Navy. I never "glowed" from the radiation nor heard of radiation related problems (ie higher cancer rates) amongst the crews but did pick up an interesting "fact." Although the upper end of the knotmeters were covered to obscure top speed (and the needle was under the covering) we were told that if they could tie ropes to the stern you could water ski behind her, assuming the wake didn't make it too choppy back there.

The day will come though, when the economics will change as oil reserves are depleted and the cost rises. Unless someone invents a new energy source, every ship will be nuclear powered. It will be either that or oars and sails.

It would not take much for a group so inclimed to get work on a ship (or go as passengers), then take it over at the appropriate time and head for wherever they wanted to target.

Many years ago, I was able to visit the Savannah at the Patriots Point museum at Charleston, but their web site doesn't mention her. Isn't she there any more?

Ever ask why the LEONARDO DA VINCI never converted to nuclear power, although she was equipped to do so?

Also remember, the oil companies are VERY powerful and VERY influential amongst the free world's governments, and would happily quash any type of alternative to oil that would threaten them.

Rex
I worked as an operator at a nuclear power plant and got some 'zoomies' before I got married and had kids. If you check out my website you'll notice my kids aren't totally mutated. Actually you and the general population gets about 200 mRem dose each year from natural background radiation. People living in high altitudes and of course airline pilots get more. Maybe thats why people around here like to remain at sea level (on a great ship of course).

John

Imagine the improvement in the air in these ports, where there are often 6 ships puffing out smoke from burning several hundred gallons of fuel per hour at idle, just running the generators. Imagine the air improvement at sea, not burning 2,000 gallons per hour!