Progress of Nuclear Ships

In November 1960 the International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) sponsored the first Symposium on Nuclear Ship Propulsion which was held at Taormina, Italy. In the foreword to the proceedings of that Symposium the Director General of the IAEA at that time stated: ^Nuclear ships will soon become a reality. For this reason the International Atomic Energy Agency, in co-operation with other international organizations, has, regardless of economic problems, the responsibility of contributing and sponsoring research in the extremely important field of nuclear merchant ship safety^. This statement reflected the mood of the first Symposium, a feeling of an assured future for nuclear shipping and the necessity for international organizations to ensure adequate safety. (authors)