ABS approves MIT nuclear design for cargo ships
In Greece, the American Bureau of Shipping approved an MIT concept for integrating a nuclear reactor into cargo ship propulsion, issuing approval in principle at Posidonia, the international shipping exhibition in Athens, for the design developed with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Capital Maritime Group.
The MIT reactor uses a synthetic fluid to carry heat from the reactor core and operates at near-atmospheric pressure, allowing thinner, lighter reactor vessels that support modular construction and easier transport. Designs of this type typically target thermal outputs of 10 to 20 megawatts. ABS reviewed the reactor-to-machinery interface against class requirements.
The approval is the first granted through the MIT Maritime Consortium, where ABS, HD KSOE and Capital Maritime Group are founding members. The consortium pairs academia and industry on technologies including alternative fuels, nuclear power, autonomy and onboard manufacturing. MIT professor Themis Sapsis called the reactor design a realistic pathway toward nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels.
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
