en.Wedoany.com Reported - The design of a 15,000 TEU small modular reactor (SMR)-powered container ship, jointly developed by the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Samsung Heavy Industries, and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). This approval aims to confirm that the new-concept vessel complies with relevant rules and industry standards during the early conceptual design phase, helping the project team demonstrate feasibility to partners and regulatory authorities.
In this project, KRISO and Samsung Heavy Industries are responsible for high-speed hull design, reactor and main system layout, as well as power operation and control technology development; KAERI is tasked with developing a molten salt reactor suitable for the marine environment. The approved concept design achieves power output sharing through a redundant arrangement of two SMRs, and utilizes an energy storage system to store excess electricity and supply power when needed, effectively managing reactor output and vessel power demand to ensure stable propulsion.
In terms of hull design, a high-speed hull form capable of 25 knots is incorporated, with the reactor positioned amidships to reduce wave impact and collision risks; a 15,000 TEU vessel size navigable through the expanded Panama Canal is adopted; existing fuel tanks and funnels are removed to improve loading efficiency; and the accommodation layout is optimized based on crew radiation safety and visibility standards. KRISO stated that these measures comprehensively consider loading efficiency, safety, and space utilization.
To assess the impact of vessel motion on reactor and other systems in the marine environment, KRISO conducted tests on scaled model ships using a deep-sea engineering basin, analyzing motion characteristics under various marine conditions. This provided data needed for designing the hull shape and reactor layout, enhancing the reliability of the conceptual design.
KRISO Principal Researcher and Research Lead Baek Bu-geun stated that applying SMRs to ship propulsion systems requires not only consideration of reactor safety but also comprehensive evaluation of vessel structure, operational characteristics, and the marine environment. Based on these results, the team will lay the foundation for the demonstration and commercialization of SMR-powered vessels through phased follow-up research, including basic design and detailed design considering the ship-reactor interface.
In February 2023, KRISO was one of nine South Korean organizations to sign a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively develop molten salt reactors suitable for ships. The parties also agreed to cooperate on developing and demonstrating SMRs for marine environments, developing interface technologies for SMR-powered ships/marine systems and addressing licensing and approvals, as well as training nuclear-powered ship operation experts and establishing industrial infrastructure.
KRISO President Hong Ki-yong noted that SMR-powered vessels will determine the competitiveness of the future shipping industry, and ensuring design technologies suitable for the marine environment is crucial. KRISO will continue to enhance the marine applicability of nuclear-powered vessels through R&D and international cooperation in ocean engineering, and contribute to the development of related technologies and international standards.
The shipping industry consumes approximately 350 million tons of fossil fuels annually, accounting for about 3% of global carbon emissions. In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved new greenhouse gas reduction targets aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by or around 2050.
