Study Assesses Economic Viability of Nuclear-Powered LNG Carriers
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A joint study conducted by ABS, Blossom Energy and a global shipping company concluded that a nuclear-powered LNG carrier would require an initial investment approximately 2.5 times higher than that of a conventional LNG carrier, although it would substantially reduce fuel costs over the vessel's service life. The work was presented at Gastech 2026.
Details of the Analysis
The study examined a 174,000 m³ LNG carrier equipped with a 20-25 MWe High-Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) developed by Blossom Energy. The vessel's configuration, propulsion system and operating conditions were compared with those of a conventional newbuild LNG-fueled carrier, and the project's economics were evaluated under various potential regulatory penalty scenarios.
Reactor Reuse
The researchers also analyzed a business model in which the reactor would be treated as a long-term energy asset rather than a component tied to a single vessel. Under this scheme, the reactor could be removed from the first LNG carrier at the end of its operational life and reinstalled on a second vessel, which would increase its residual value and improve the overall economic assessment.
Statements from Officials
Patrick Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ABS, stated that nuclear energy has the potential to fundamentally change the economics of commercial shipping, from vessel design to long-term operating costs. For his part, Shimpei Hamamoto, CEO of Blossom Energy, noted that the study provides a quantitative basis for continuing the discussion on nuclear propulsion in commercial shipping and emphasized the need to develop the technical and regulatory framework for its application.
Background and Remaining Challenges
This work adds to previous studies on nuclear propulsion for LNG carriers, such as the one conducted in 2024 by ABS and Herbert Engineering Corporation on a 145,000 m³ vessel with an HTGR, and the Approval in Principle granted in 2025 by ABS and the Liberian flag to an LNG carrier with a molten salt modular reactor developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Samsung Heavy Industries. ABS also granted an Approval in Principle in July for a 15,000 TEU nuclear-powered container ship. Despite growing industry interest, regulatory, safety, port access, crewing and public acceptance challenges remain for the commercial deployment of this technology.
