Plans to develop a nuclear-powered tanker were given the go ahead in
1961, by a somewhat sceptical Cabinet. Papers released this week show that
nuclear-powered ships were hopelessly uneconomic. The government had invited
tenders for a ship in 1959.
A 65 000 tonne nuclear-powered tanker would have cost between 拢13
and 拢15 million, more than three times as much as a conventionally
powered tanker.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Selwyn Lloyd, told the Cabinet he was
鈥榥ot convinced that it was justifiable in our present economic circumstances
to incur expenditure on the scale proposed . . . 鈥�
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Nevertheless the Atomic Energy Authority, backed by transport minister
Ernest Marples, overcame this initial opposition and won funding for a 鈥榲igorous鈥�
research programme, costing 拢3 million.