The Savannah nuclear ship, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was built to the plans of Erazmo Tićac. Born in Žurkovo in 1904, Erazmo went to schools in Žurkovo, Kostrena and Bakar, and made a career as a shipbuilding engineer in the USA. After the president Dwight Eisenhower announced his decision to build an experimental nuclear-powered merchant ship in 1955. 

Erazmo Tićac, planner of the Savannah nuclear ship. Source of the photo.

The planning was entrusted to the firm The Sharp Brothers Inc., and Tićac became the leading planner. The ship was launched in 1959. On a plaque above the entrance to the ship’s lounge was written in golden letters: “Ben Tićac, naval architect”. Erazmo got the name Ben when he received American citizenship. Source of the text www.kvarner.hr

Savannah during one of its visits to the city of Rijeka, Croatia.
Photo by the courtesy of Miljenko Smokvina, Rijeka.

For more information see www.croatia.org.