• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
ABS granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to a conceptual design for a 15,000 TEU nuclear-powered containership, developed in collaboration with the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (Kriso) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (Kaeri).
Equipped with a small modular reactor (SMR), this concept represents a key milestone in an ongoing joint development project with ABS, Kriso, and Kaeri to evaluate the technical feasibility of nuclear-powered commercial shipping.
The vessel concept incorporates a molten salt marine reactor (MSR) and is part of a broader multi-year collaboration focused on identifying technical challenges, advancing conceptual development, and supporting the application of classification and safety requirements to next-generation nuclear vessel designs.
Keyyong Hong, President of Kriso, added that "vessels powered by small modular reactors (SMRs) represent a state-of-the-art technology that will determine the future competitiveness of the shipping sector, and securing design technologies adapted to the marine environment is fundamental to making them a reality. KRISO will continue to drive the maritime applicability of nuclear-powered vessels through ocean engineering research and development and international cooperation, and will strive to help Korea lead related international technologies and standards."
"Nuclear power has the potential to radically transform commercial shipping in terms of vessel design, range, and energy economics. ABS is focused on developing the necessary technical and safety framework to support this, and this AIP with Kriso and Kaeri is a concrete part of that work," stated Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.
As part of the joint development, Kriso carried out the conceptual design of the 15,000 TEU nuclear-powered containership, Kaeri developed the conceptual design of the MSR, and ABS completed the AIP review of the overall concept. This collaboration builds on ABS's broader work with Korean partners to advance nuclear applications in marine and offshore assets, including a memorandum of understanding signed with KRISO in 2025 to cooperate on nuclear-powered vessels and floating nuclear power platforms.
