NORTHWEST PASSAGE--TRADE ROUTE FOR LARGE AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES

For nearly 500 years seafaring nations of the North Atlantic have searched for a Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This report identifies a conceptual vehicle and powerplant (a 9070-metric-ton (10,000-ton) nuclear-powered air-cushion vehicle (ACV)) that could open the Northwest Passage and other Arctic passages to commercial traffic. The report contains a description of the conceptual vehicle, including the powerplant and operations, an assessment of technical feasibility, estimates of capital and operating costs, and identification of eligible cargo and markets. A comparison of the nuclear ACV freighter with nuclear container ships shows that for containerized or roll-on/roll-off cargo the ACV would provide greatly reduced transit time between North Atlantic North Pacific ports at a competitive cost.

• Corporate Authors:

  Lewis Research Center

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Cleveland, OH  United States  44135
• Authors:
  • Anderson, J L
• Publication Date: 1973-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air cushion vehicles; Cold weather; Nuclear powered ships; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship design
• Geographic Terms: Arctic Regions
• Old TRIS Terms: Arctic transportation; Ship descriptions
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00043945
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA TM X-2684 Tech Memo
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 4 1973 12:00AM