South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has revealed a groundbreaking nuclear-powered container ship design using small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The announcement was made on 12 February at the New Nuclear for Maritime Houston Summit, held at the Asia Society Texas Center, USA.
Previously, HD KSOE secured Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a 15,000 TEU-class container ship featuring SMR technology. The newly unveiled model enhances economic efficiency and safety by incorporating real-world equipment and advanced safety designs.
Unlike conventional vessels, nuclear-powered ships eliminate the need for exhaust systems or fuel tanks
HD KSOE has optimised space by replacing the traditional engine room with additional container storage. To ensure safety, the design integrates a marine radiation shielding system using a double-tank method with stainless steel and light water.
In collaboration with global energy technology firm Baker Hughes, HD KSOE has also introduced a supercritical carbon dioxide-based propulsion system, increasing thermal efficiency by around 5% compared with existing steam-based systems.
HD KSOE plans to establish a marine nuclear demonstration facility at its Future Technology Test Centre in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, to validate safety designs.
“HD KSOE is strengthening cooperation not only with major classification societies but also with international regulatory bodies to establish international regulations necessary for the commercialisation of nuclear-powered vessels,” said Park Sangmin, Head of HD KSOE’s Green Energy Research Lab. “Starting with the land-based SMR reactor manufacturing project, we aim to develop a marine nuclear business model by 2030.”
The company has been actively expanding its nuclear-powered shipping initiatives. In October 2023, HD KSOE and Kepco Engineering & Construction (Kepco E&C) received ABS approval for a floating offshore nuclear power barge, intended to provide power for remote communities and island electrification.
Further collaborations continue. In January 2024, Lloyd’s Register, Zodiac Maritime, HD KSOE and Kepco E&C signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of nuclear-propelled ship designs, including bulk carriers and container ships.
The following month, HD KSOE announced plans to develop an SMR for shipping in partnership with the UK’s Core Power, the USA’s Southern Company and TerraPower. This reactor will be based on TerraPower’s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR) design, with a marine-specific version—known as the m-MSR—currently in development.
The global shipping industry burns around 350 million tonnes of fossil fuels annually, accounting for roughly 3% of total carbon emissions. In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization approved new greenhouse gas reduction targets, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. Nuclear propulsion, led by innovations such as HD KSOE’s SMR-powered ship, could be a key solution in decarbonising maritime transport.
Source: world-nuclear-news.org "Korean SMR-powered container ship design revealed"
https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/korean-smr-powered-container-ship-design-revealed
