SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has unveiled its first design for a nuclear-powered container ship, incorporating Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, at the Houston Maritime Nuclear Summit.
The vessel, which has received an approval from the American Bureau of Shipping, eliminates the need for internal combustion engines and fuel tanks, repurposing the traditional engine room space for additional container storage. The design also features a double-tank marine radiation shielding system to enhance safety.
As part of its efforts to advance nuclear-powered maritime technology, the company plans to establish demonstration facilities at its Future Technology Test Center in Yongin, South Korea, to evaluate safety measures.
The firm is collaborating with the U.S.-based SMR specialist TerraPower and, in December 2024, secured an order to manufacture key components for TerraPower’s sodium reactor project in Wyoming.
"HD Korea Shipbuilding is strengthening its partnerships with major classification societies and international regulatory bodies to help establish the global framework needed for nuclear-powered vessel commercialization," a company official said. "Starting with land-based SMR reactor manufacturing, we aim to complete the development of a maritime nuclear business model by 2030."
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