པ་
CORY
March 7, 1967
The Honorable N.D. Irving Cass, C.M.G.
Colonial Secretary
Hong Kong, B.C.C.
Dear Sir:
As you may know, the NS SAVANNAH has been operating commercially to Northern Europe and in the Mediterranean since August, 1965. This operation has been a success in every respect. The company which has been operating the vessel, First Atomic Ship Transport, Inc. (FAST), a subsidiary of American Export Isbrandtsen Lines, Inc., has recently expressed a desire to make a call at Hong Kong. Accordingly, it gives me pleasure to introduce the SAVANNAH's operator and to express this Government's interest in this vessel.
The SAVANNAH is subject to the 1960 Safety of Life at Sea Convention, and has complied with all safety and operational requirements governing nuclear-powered merchant vessels of her class. The vessel has been licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the operator has received a Reactor Operating License from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). This license was accompanied by an Agreement of Indemnification between AEC and FAST, under which FAST and other persons indemnified will be held harmless in connection with any public liability they incur for any nuclear incident in connection with, arising out of or resulting from the operation, repair, maintenance or use of the SAVANNAH up to $500 million. Copies of the documents will be made available to you through the American Consulate General or FAST officials, who will be in touch with your port and government authorities to make the usual commercial arrangements. We hope that the FAST officials can be received by your government as soon as possible and propose that they come to Hong Kong within two weeks after delivery of this letter.
If the operator is required to contact someone other than the officials usually involved with the entry of conventional merchant cargo ships we would very much appreciate your letting the Consulate General know.