Final Essay

There have been few advancements in the history of seafaring that have changed the limits of our capabilities more than nuclear propulsion. Nuclear power has revolutionized maritime warfare in much the same way as sail power or steam power had in the past. Nuclear powered vessels use fission to produce electricity and they are extremely efficient compared to vessels that use fossil fuels. With the introduction of nuclear powered vessels, for the first time in history, the limits on how long a vessel could stay away from port shifted to the human occupants rather than the vessel’s need to refuel (Kamei, 2013). This, among other advantages, has not only increased the capabilities of naval forces, but has also changed foreign policy and strategies.

Nuclear power produces radiation that can be harmful to people and the environment if proper safety procedures aren’t in place. The safety record of the U.S. nuclear navy is excellent due to high levels of training and high levels of standardization in operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants (Nuclear-Powered Ships, 2015). Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, father of the nuclear navy, ensured safe operation of nuclear reactors through enforcement of the strictest standards of technical and procedural compliance (Nuclear Propulsion, 2000). Maintaining this, combined with a lot of redundancy, can take a large toll on crews, however, it is necessary in order to maintain safe operation of these ships. This is why highly trained and personally responsible personnel are so important (Protection of People, n.d.). Other than crew responsibility, there are at least four barriers that work to keep radiation inside the ship, especially in the case of a problem (Fact Sheet on U.S. Nuclear Powered Warship (NPW) Safety, 2013). Although conventional ships also require high amounts of training and include many redundant safety procedures, the risks are greater for nuclear powered warships, therefore, they require more rigorous safety