The certification, jointly granted by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Liberian flag state, marks an important step towards making nuclear-powered commercial vessels a reality.
Dr Jin-Young Cho, Director of the Advanced Reactor Research Institute, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating that the project will continue to drive progress towards carbon neutrality in global shipping.
Molten salt reactor technology uses liquid nuclear fuel that combines fuel and coolant in one medium. This innovation provides strong safety margins and exceptional energy efficiency, making it particularly well suited for maritime applications.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this reactor design is its longevity. Operating at 100 MWth capacity, a single MSR unit can power an LNG carrier for its entire lifetime without the need for refuelling, delivering both operational efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
The project, which began in 2023, is supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The consortium aims to complete the conceptual design of a marine MSR by 2026, paving the way for deployment in the next generation of sustainable shipping.
