Korea's molten salt nuclear-powered container ship design wins US approval

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) said Thursday that a conceptual design for a 15,000-TEU container ship powered by a molten salt reactor (MSR) has received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping, a U.S.-based ship classification society.

The design was jointly developed with the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) and Samsung Heavy Industries.

AIP is a process in which a classification society reviews the technical feasibility and safety of a new technology or design at the concept stage, based on relevant regulations and safety standards — a significant step for a field still in its early stages of international development, such as nuclear-powered ships.

An MSR is a type of small modular reactor that uses molten salt mixed with nuclear fuel as a liquid fuel, prized for its high safety and energy efficiency as a next-generation ship engine.

The container ship design uses two MSR units, with optimized power systems and hull layout meant to improve both safety and operational efficiency.

Key features include a dual-rea ...