THE WORLD'S FIRST NUCLEAR-POWERED CARGO-PASSENGER SHIP, THE "SAVANNAH", DEMONSTRATED HER VIRTUES TO MEMBERS OF THE PRESS DURING TWO-DAY SEA TRIALS APRIL 13-14 OFF THE VIRGINIA COASTLINE OF THE U.S.A.

BUILT BY THE NEW YORK SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION AND LAUNCHED JULY 1959, THE 21,840-TONS "SAVANNAH" IS UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN GASTON R. DE GROOTE OF STATES MARINES LINES, NEW YORK. DESIGNED FOR SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 20-KNOTS, SHE REACHED 24-KNOTS DURING TRIALS, AND THE CAPTAIN SAID HE WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH THIS, ALTHOUGH HE FELT SHE COULD GO FASTER IF REQUIRED.

APART FROM THE ABILITY TO CARRY 9,000 TONS OF CARGO, THE "SAVANNAH" CAN ALSO ACCOMMODATE 60 PASSENGERS IN COMPARATIVE LUXURY. THE DINING ROOMS AND LOUNGES FOR PASSENGERS AND CREW ALIKE ARE AS GOOD AS MOST PASSENGER LINERS.

ASKED ABOUT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS SHOULD THE REACTOR GO OUT OF CONTROL. CAPTAIN DE-GROOTE SAID THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF IT GOING OUT OF CONTROL, FOR IF SOMETHING SHOULD GO AMISS, THE REACTOR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOW, AND THE SHIP WOULD CONTINUE UNDER THE POWER OF AUXILIARY STEAM TURBINES.

THE AMERICAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - WHO PAID FOR THE 22 1/2-MILLION DOLLAR REACTOR - HAS SAID THE "SAVANNAH" "WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INITIAL PORTS OF CALL WITHIN A FEW MONTHS." BUT MANY PORTS APPARENTLY ARE NOT EAGER TO WELCOME THE EXPERIMENTAL SHIP FOR FEAR OF RADIATION. THE SENATE-HOUSE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TOLD THAT NEGOTIATIONS WERE UNDER WAY WITH MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. FAVOURABLE REACTIONS WERE EXPECTED SOON FROM NORWAY AND GREECE. PROSPECTS FOR A WELCOME WERE DESCRIBED AS "GOOD IN GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS AND SWEDEN. "BUT NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THE CHANCES OF GETTING THE "SAVANNAH" INTO PORTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, ITALY, BELGIUM, DENMARK, PORTUGAL OR SPAIN. SOME AMERICAN PORTS ARE ALSO REPORTED A LITTLE SHY ABOUT RECEIVING THE "SAVANNAH".