Wedoany.com Report-Jun 23, The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted approval in principle (AIP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), affiliates of South Korea’s HD Hyundai, for a floating small modular reactor (SMR) unit design. The concept aims to produce electricity for offshore and near-shore applications, supporting port facilities and local communities.

Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, stated: “Floating nuclear power facilities show promise in supporting power grids, microgrids, industrial and port operations, data centers, and other uses. Additionally, today’s advanced nuclear technology has a different risk profile from traditional reactor technology with state-of-the-art designs and with lower enrichment fuels, making commercial offshore and maritime applications more viable.”

An HD KSOE official remarked: “The floating nuclear power plant is expected to play a key role in building a future powered by clean energy. We will remain fully committed to developing the necessary technologies and ensuring its successful realization.”

This AIP marks HD KSOE’s second approval for a floating nuclear power barge design, reflecting ongoing collaboration with ABS on nuclear technology projects. These include another power barge concept and a 15,000 TEU nuclear-powered containership design. The partnership underscores efforts to advance sustainable energy solutions for maritime and coastal applications.

In related developments, ABS collaborated with Herbert Engineering Corp (HEC) to publish a study on floating nuclear-powered data centers, addressing design considerations for facilities supporting the growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, ABS issued a report exploring the potential of nuclear technology in the maritime sector, focusing on the integration of an SMR on a standard liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

The floating SMR design represents a significant step toward clean energy innovation, with potential to enhance energy supply reliability for diverse industrial and community needs.