Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) have jointly developed a concept design for a LNG carrier powered by a small modular reactor (SMR). US-based classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Liberia flag state have awarded approval in principle to the design. ABS, as part of the Novel Concept Class Approval process, grants Approval in Principle (AIP) at an early conceptual design stage to assist the client in demonstrating project feasibility to its project partners and regulatory bodies.
SHI revealed the concept design for a SMR at Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy, while KAERI published details of the design on its website. The two organisations partnered on both the ship design and the design of the SMR. KAERI said obtaining AIP for the conceptual design “is the first step toward moving forward with actual ship development”.
The SMR used in the design is a molten-salt reactor (MSR). According to KAERI and SHI, their MSR design uses molten salt mixed with nuclear fuel and coolant as liquid nuclear fuel. For LNG carrier propulsion, it is designed to have a capacity of 100 MWt and to eliminate the need for fuel replacement during the life of the vessel, even if only one unit is installed. Both SHI and KAERI are participating as lead research and development institutions in South Korea’s MSR Source & Innovation Technology Development Project, with support from the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
In October 2024, ABS released a study of a small modular reactor on a standard LNG carrier. ABS said the study was designed to help industry “better understand the feasibility and safety implications of nuclear propulsion and to support future development projects”. The study considered the impact of a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor on the design, operation and emissions of a 145,000-cubic-metre LNG carrier.
In 2022, ABS was awarded a contract by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to research barriers to the adoption of advanced nuclear propulsion on commercial vessels. ABS is developing models of different advanced reactor technologies for maritime applications with support from DOE’s National Reactor Innovation Center, based at Idaho National Laboratory. It is developing an industry advisory on the commercial use of modern nuclear power.
