A concept rendering of an SMR-powered container ship. [Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering]
A concept rendering of an SMR-powered container ship. [Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering]

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced Thursday that a concept design for a 15,000-TEU container ship powered by molten salt reactors (MSR), jointly developed with the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) and Samsung Heavy Industries, has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

AiP is a procedure through which a classification society reviews the technical feasibility and safety of a new technology or design against relevant regulations and safety standards. For fields still in the early stages of international development — such as nuclear-powered vessels — validating a concept design's technical viability carries particular significance.

Nuclear propulsion technology is currently limited to specialized vessels such as warships and icebreakers, while research and development for its application to civilian commercial ships is advancing actively worldwide. As tightening greenhouse gas emission regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) accelerate the shipping industry's shift toward carbon neutrality, major shipbuilding and marine research institutions are focusing their efforts on concept design and safety verification for nuclear-powered vessels.

Small modular reactors have drawn attention as a next-generation reactor technology well suited for shipboard use, given their more compact design compared with conventional large reactors. The concept design targets a 15,000-TEU SMR-powered container ship using two MSRs as its power source. MSRs can operate for extended periods without refueling and offer high levels of safety, making them well suited for vessels requiring long-distance voyages.

The achievement is significant as it brought together the expertise of specialized institutions across different fields.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute led development of the marine molten salt reactor (MARINA) that serves as the vessel's power source, while KRISO and Samsung Heavy Industries handled the high-speed hull design, the layout of the reactor and key systems, and the development of power operation and control technology.

Patrick Ryan, ABS chief technology officer (from left), Hong Ki-yong, director of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, and Cho Jin-young, director of the Advanced Reactor Research Division at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, pose for a photo at the AiP award ceremony for the SMR-powered container ship. [Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering]
Patrick Ryan, ABS chief technology officer (from left), Hong Ki-yong, director of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, and Cho Jin-young, director of the Advanced Reactor Research Division at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, pose for a photo at the AiP award ceremony for the SMR-powered container ship. [Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering]

The participating institutions plan to move forward in stages — refining the interface between the reactor and the vessel, conducting safety verification that accounts for actual operating conditions at sea, advancing the design, and testing and demonstrating key technologies.

Hong Ki-yong, director of KRISO, said SMR-powered vessels represent a next-generation technology that will determine the competitiveness of the future shipping industry, and that securing design technology suited to the marine environment is paramount. "KRISO will continue to enhance the maritime applicability of nuclear-powered vessels through research and development in ocean engineering and international cooperation, and will work to contribute to the development of related technologies and international standards," he said.

Cho Jin-young, director of the Advanced Reactor Research Division at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, called the achievement an important milestone for the MSR-based SMR vessel development mission under the K-Moonshot Project. "This will serve as a foundation for leading the next-generation zero-carbon vessel market, built on world-class nuclear technology and the competitiveness of Korea's shipbuilding industry," Cho said. "Going forward, the institute will work alongside the shipbuilding and marine industries, classification societies, and regulatory bodies to bring SMR-powered vessels to reality."


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com