A new chapter in maritime propulsion has opened as the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Samsung Heavy Industries secured the world’s first Approval in Principle (AiP) for a 174,000-cubic-metre nuclear-powered LNG carrier. The certification, granted by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Liberian flag state, was unveiled at Gastech 2025 in Milan, World nuclear news reported.
The vessel’s design is based on a small modular molten salt reactor (MSR), a technology that uses molten salt as both fuel and coolant. Experts say this approach brings notable advantages for shipping, offering improved safety and energy efficiency compared to conventional systems.
One of the key features highlighted by KAERI is the reactor’s durability. Operating at 100 MWth capacity, a single MSR unit could power an LNG carrier for its entire lifetime without the need for refueling.
The project, launched in 2023, is backed by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The partners aim to complete the conceptual design of the marine MSR by 2026, marking a major step toward carbon-neutral propulsion in the maritime sector.
Photo: Samsung Heavy Industries
