Nimitz Class Sunk?

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jazsa80
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Nimitz Class Sunk?

Post by jazsa80 »

Just wondering if anybody know what would happen if a ship the size of a Nimitz goes down in deep water (2000m+).

What happens to the Reactor? Does it just fizzle away for 50 years or does it turn the ocean radioactive?

I would say that if the shut down procedure is able to be activated then not much so lets assume it isnt.
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RF
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Re: Nimitz Class Sunk?

Post by RF »

If it sinks the reactor or its fuel obviously won't disappear, I suppose its a question of how much fuel, which would probably take centuries to degrade. If it escaped or came into contact with seawater there would be local contamination, probably not enough to affect the entire sea area but enough to cause fishing restrictions etc.
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chcrawfish
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Re: Nimitz Class Sunk?

Post by chcrawfish »

Well, there are a few nuclear powered submarines on the seabed right now. USS Thresher comes to mind. I don't believe there are any problems associated with her.
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Bgile
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Re: Nimitz Class Sunk?

Post by Bgile »

chcrawfish wrote:Well, there are a few nuclear powered submarines on the seabed right now. USS Thresher comes to mind. I don't believe there are any problems associated with her.
Good point.
Takao
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Re: Nimitz Class Sunk?

Post by Takao »

Here is a Wikipedia list of sunken nuclear submarines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_su ... submarines

Also, the old Soviet Union has dumped some 15 - 18 nuclear reactors into the Kara sea.

Overview of Soviet dumping of nuclear wastes.
http://www.nti.org/db/nisprofs/russia/n ... steovr.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... i_13785312
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Legend
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Re: Nimitz Class Sunk?

Post by Legend »

Careless old Russians. (no offense to anyone who may be on here...) Well, theres a reason they say the old Russian sub crews used to glow in the dark... he he he

If reactors of that size and quantity (to a super-carrier) plumeted to the bottom I am sure the USN would check the safety on them almost immediately after it was safe in the area and then either raise them or mark them depending on the situation.
AND THE SEA SHALL GRANT EACH MAN NEW HOPE, AS SLEEP BRINGS DREAMS.
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