CONTAINER SHIPS: OIL FUELED VERSUS NUCLEAR POWERED

A recently designed oil fueled, high speed, quick turnaround container ship was used as the base for a comparison to determine the economic feasibility of nuclear propulsion for ships of this type. To avoid inadvertent advantage to one or the other alternative, both were analyzed according to two independent economic criteria: average annual operating cost and average annual net profit. Each of these criteria accounts for the significant costs incurred by the ship over its life, including the effects of taxes and the time value of money. Results of sensitivity computations indicate that the nuclear powered container ship, as modified for this comparison, would now be competitive with the oil fueled ship on transatlantic routes. A similar ship specifically designed for nuclear propulsion should have an economic advantage.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Published in the Engineering Research Bulletin. Also published in Nuclear Technology, Vol. 22, No. 2, May 1974, pp 196-223.
• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  College of Engineering
  University Park, PA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Dade, T B
  • Witzig, W F
• Publication Date: 1973-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 53 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containerization; Economics; Nuclear powered ships; Operating costs; Ships
• Subject Areas: Economics; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00048395
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Pennsylvania State University, University Park
• Report/Paper Numbers: B-109 Bulletin
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 14 1974 12:00AM