The latest developments in modular reactor technology mean that nuclear energy has become a technically and commercially viable option to power merchant ships, Babcock’s Business Development Director Blair Jamieson has told ship.energy. The British engineering firm, which has been involved in the design and support of naval nuclear submarines for several decades, reports that maritime nuclear power should no longer be limited to military applications and is ready to take the leap to commercial shipping. This shift is driven by the development of so-called ‘fourth generation’ advanced modular reactors (AMRs), which are now reaching the technological maturity to be ‘marinised’ […]

Classification society ABS has signed a joint development project (JDP) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HD HSHI) that will focus on developing a conceptual design for a nuclear-powered electric propulsion system that can be used on a 16,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container ship. In a statement sent to ship.energy today (9 March), Matthew Mueller, ABS Vice President, North Pacific Business Development, said: ‘This project represents an important step in exploring the potential of a nuclear-powered electric propulsion system for container vessels. By combining HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding expertise with ABS’ […]

Class society Lloyd’s Register has announced Approval in Principle (AiP) for a hybrid nuclear ready power concept, developed with Australian ship design group, Seatransport, which would enable Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs) to be combined with conventional diesel-electric systems for 73-metre and 90-metre amphibious stern landing vessel (SLV) designs. The AiP is the culmination of a number of years of collaboration between LR and Seatransport, and the companies say they have now demonstrated how licensable MMRs can be safely integrated with proven diesel-electric systems to deliver long-range vessels with significantly reduced fuel dependence and emissions. A recently launched conventionally powered 73-metre […]