Nuclear-electric propelled vessel design from HD KSOE earns ABS approval

A pioneering nuclear propelled containership designed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has received approval in principle from ABS.

The groundbreaking design for a 15k TEU vessel uses a propulsion system comprised of a molten salt reactor (MSR) for heat and a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) system for power generation. ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements. ABS published the industry’s first comprehensive requirements for floating nuclear power in October last year. 

“Advanced modern reactors are both a global decarbonization solution and a commercial shipping disruptor,” said ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. “They are a key transformational technology that forms a critical part of the calculus to get to net zero by 2050 and they change the commercial model, the economics of shipping, the operation of the vessels and their design, as KSOE have demonstrated. The new nuclear story is now being written and this collaboration with KSOE is an important step forward.”

Senior Vice President Sangmin Park (pictured, with ABS SVP & CTO Patrick Ryan) of HD KSOE said: “Fourth-generation SMRs, currently in the demonstration phase, offer a groundbreaking improvement in safety compared to conventional reactors. When applied to large container ships, they could potentially have less risk than some of the other alternative fuel systems.”

Following the AIP, HD KSOE will continue to work with ABS to further develop the vessel.

ABS is leading the industry in exploring advanced nuclear reactor technologies for offshore and maritime applications and is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to research barriers to the adoption of advanced nuclear propulsion on commercial vessels.