Wedoany.com Report on Mar 11th, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) signed an agreement at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center in Bundang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, to jointly develop an electric propulsion system for nuclear-powered container ships. Attending the ceremony were Kwon Byung-hoon, Head of HD KSOE's Electrification Center, Shim Hak-mo, Head of the Design Division at HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HD HSHI), and Matthew Muller, Sales Representative for the Far East & Asia at ABS.
Under the agreement, both parties will conduct basic design, electrical equipment selection, and layout planning for the nuclear-powered electric propulsion system of a 16,000 TEU container ship. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to integrate a Small Modular Reactor (SMR), a technology capable of stably providing up to 100 megawatts of power, to verify its potential as a marine power source. The design of the nuclear-powered container ship will apply a twin-screw propulsion system to enhance the vessel's propulsive force and maneuverability, meeting the demands of long-distance, high-speed voyages.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries also plans to adopt a direct-coupled propulsion system, directly connecting the engine motor to the propeller to reduce energy loss and improve operational efficiency. This will help increase the loading capacity for refrigerated containers, better meeting shippers' needs. Regarding safety, the company will incorporate enhanced safety standards to ensure safety is maintained in emergencies such as collisions or flooding, and will follow regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency to improve system reliability.
Muller stated, "This project is a significant step in exploring the potential of nuclear-powered electric propulsion systems for container ships. By combining HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipbuilding expertise with ABS's deep engineering experience in maritime safety, we aim to evaluate technologies that can support the safer, more efficient, and lower-emission operation of next-generation propulsion solutions." Kwon Byung-hoon added, "In response to the growing demand for eco-friendly ships, we are continuously developing electric propulsion systems that use nuclear energy—a carbon-free energy source. We will expand our R&D efforts to enhance our technological competitiveness in the field of nuclear-related electric propulsion."
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries showcased a model of a nuclear-powered container ship last February and received an Approval in Principle (AIP) from ABS for the conceptual design of the electric propulsion system for a 16,000 TEU container ship in September. The shipping industry consumes approximately 350 million tons of fossil fuel annually, contributing about 3% of global carbon emissions. In July 2024, the IMO adopted new emission reduction targets aiming for net-zero emissions around 2050, promoting the development of low-carbon technologies such as nuclear-powered container ships.
