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    Koreas Design eines mit geschmolzenem Salz betriebenen Containerschiffs erhält US-Zulassung

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    1. rdh2dmd on

      **Submission Statement:**

      A conceptual design for a massive 15,000-TEU container ship powered by dual molten salt reactors (MSR) has just received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Jointly developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), KRISO, and Samsung Heavy Industries, this represents a major step forward for the decarbonization of global maritime shipping.

      The shipping industry is notoriously difficult to decarbonize, currently accounting for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While battery electric designs work for short distances, long-haul cargo transport has struggled to find a viable zero-emission alternative to heavy fuel oil. By utilizing molten salt reactors—which are highly stable, self-regulating, and run on liquid fuel that cannot melt down like traditional pressurized water reactors—this project outlines a highly efficient, high-speed (25 knots) pathway to entirely emission-free global trade. The US approval signals that regulatory bodies are beginning to take nuclear-powered commercial shipping seriously as a next-generation reality.

    2. phovos on

      Why not an icebreaker? Nuclear Icebreaker actually has utility, this is just a waste of effort that will never be built because what is the point you save no money and have no benefits over fuel oil or methane or methanol or whatever else for commercial shipping (going a long time without refueling is irrelevant for a ship that.. goes from port to port delivering goods; that is for if you want to stay out away from port for long, extended periods).

      ATM the only way to get a nuclear icebreaker is to buy one from Russia. Doing a partnership with South Korea (Why does article say „Korea’s“?) would be a good way for the west to break into the industry.

    3. Sarcolemna on

      Oh man I hope this actually gets built. I’ve been wanting some nuclear logistics our there for years. This context is where there are few if any capability substitutions for nuclear. Limited volume, big power needs, high cost for downtime refueling, great benefits of speed. Your not going to economically move millions of tons of stuff with a battery or other 0 carbon solution (probably anyway) and the alternative is the horrid bunker oil drinking engines we are using now. I’m excited. Now I just need to hold out for nuclear trains, nuclear aircraft, nuclear rockets, and toasters. yeahhhh!

    4. topazchip on

      Molten salt reactor designs are not new, but they have previously had the minor defect of the operator not being able to shut them down more than once without (figuratively and literally) bricking the system. I wonder how that minor problem has been resolved.

    5. jar1967 on

      I hope they fixed it Chernoble size problems that have kept molten salt reactors from entering service

    6. BKGPrints on

      Is there a friendlier name than having to say molten salt nuclear-powered?

    7. MorphyNOR on

      Hmm, K-SMR? I guess the K stands for Korea(n). But SMR? Isn’t a molten salt reactor… MSR?

    9. e_spider on

      You could also park it off the coast after a natural disaster to serve as a mobile power plant

    10. potatisblask on

      Wait what? Isn’t this the type of reactor that doesn’t exist yet on land but in academic designs and a few test reactors running into problems?

    12. ThePensiveE on

      I’m so glad this is coming out during a time of free and safe passage of the seas without any risks!

      Pretty cool concept. Better keep it away from humans.

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