South Korea gains US approval for a 15,000 TEU nuclear container ship, enhancing efficiency and decarbonisation in shipping.
South Korea has won preliminary approval from the American Bureau of Shipping for a 15,000 TEU container ship powered by twin molten salt small modular reactors, reported New York's TechRadar.
The Approval in Principle confirms that the concept meets safety intentions at this early stage, though further technical conditions must be addressed. The design integrates nuclear propulsion, energy storage, and an optimized layout to boost efficiency while advancing decarbonisation in shipping.
The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering worked with Samsung Heavy Industries on hull development, reactor placement, and power management. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute is developing the molten salt reactor for marine use.
Engineers removed conventional fuel tanks and exhaust funnels to create more cargo space and arranged accommodation areas with radiation protection in mind. The hull is designed to reach 25 knots and remain compatible with the expanded Panama Canal.
Scaled ship models were tested in a deep-sea engineering tank to study vessel motion and reactor placement under varied marine conditions. Principal researcher Baek Bu-geun stated that reactor safety alone is insufficient, stressing the need to consider ship design and operating environment comprehensively.
KRISO President Hong Ki-yong remarked that SMR-powered vessels represent next-generation technology that will shape competitiveness in shipping. Commercial shipping consumes about 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for roughly 3 percent of global carbon emissions. The nuclear-powered concept remains years from deployment.
