National Maritime Day
May 22nd is National Maritime Day. You didn’t know that? That’s ok, most people do not. In fact, if you search for “National Maritime Day” in Wikipedia, all that is displayed is the following:
National Maritime Day is a United States holiday created to recognize the maritime industry. It is observed on May 22, the date that the American steamship Savannah set sail from Savannah, Georgia on the first ever transoceanic voyage under steam power. The holiday was created by the United States Congress on May 20, 1933.
Many of our national holidays, stemming from lesser-known days as National Maritime Day to the easily recognizable days such as Memorial Day on Monday, have lost their meanings in our society. Days that were initially established to honor those who gave their lives in defense of our country or honor those that made our country great have been replaced with three-day weekends for parties and trips to the beach. Well today, I would like to remind you what this day is all about.
On May 22, 1819, the steamship Savannah set sailed from the port of Savannah, Georgia on her way to Liverpool, England. After 28 days under sail and steam, the S.S. Savannah pulled into Liverpool becoming the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. She made a few port stops in Europe before turning around and returning the United States. In honor of her successful trip, May 22nd was declared National Maritime Day in 1933 under Congressional declaration.
Marking the 190th anniversary of that fateful voyage, the Port of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Merchant Marine Alumni Foundation celebrated National Maritime Day aboard the nuclearship Savannah. Honoring her namesake, the nuclearship N.S. Savannah was the first U.S. commercial to be powered by a nuclear reactor. Under the program “Atoms for Peace,” President Dwight Eisenhower wanted a vessel to be used to showcase the peaceful applications of nuclear power. Built under a joint project by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Atomic Energy Commission, the ship made port calls around the world before being retired after just a few years.
In today’s ceremony, former Congresswoman Helen Bentley recalled how she was a reported and maritime editor for the Baltimore Sun covering the construction and operation of the N.S. Savannah. Recalling how it was a nuclear reactor looking for a ship, the government spent up to $80 Million showcasing modern propulsion surrounded by antiquated technology. Since the government’s primary focus was on the nuclear reactor, the builder saved money where they could in other aspects of the vessel. She felt that just $4 Million more would have been enough to really turn the ship into a flagship of the American fleet.
While the N.S. Savannah never made enough money to cover the cost of her construction due to the nuclear reactor, it is possible that we might see the return to nuclear power again in the future. As oil prices rise around the globe, and the demand for more goods increase on the international market, the long-term cost for fueling traditional diesel and steamships may exceed the costs of creating a ship powered by nuclear power. The drawback would be the laws some countries have against allowing nuclear ships from entering their ports. The stigma of nuclear power, stemming from World War II to Three Mile Island to Chernobyl, has tainted an otherwise safe form of energy that has been in use in many countries for decades.
As you enjoy your television, new car, or latest electronic gadget, pause for a moment and look to see where it was made. If it isn’t made in North America, it is most likely that it was brought to you at some point aboard a commercial vessel. Between the S.S. Savannah and the N.S. Savannah, as well as all other ships ever to sail the open seas, the Maritime industry has been there to expand the economy and defend our way of life. For our ships not only bring you new goods to buy, but they also aid our troops in wars around the globe, and sometimes find themselves in the hands of Somali pirates. So take a moment today to reflect on our men and women that sail around the world, for today is their day.
Related articles:
President Barack Obama – “National Maritime Day Proclamation 2009 by the President of the United States of America”
N.S. Savannah – official website
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