"Once Fueled, Operates for 20 Years"…Domestic Nuclear-Powered Ship Construction Begins in Earnest

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Samsung Heavy Industries Sign Joint Research Agreement on Molten Salt Reactor Development on the 8th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The development of domestically produced nuclear-powered ships that can operate for more than 20 years on a single fuel load is set to accelerate.

On the 9th, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced that on the 8th, it signed an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries at the Geoje shipyard support center to cooperate in developing nuclear-powered ships with zero carbon emissions in response to the strengthening of international carbon emission regulations in the nuclear maritime transport sector.

Specifically, both parties agreed to conduct joint research in the development of Molten Salt Reactors (MSR), which have no risk of major accidents. They will collaborate on the design of marine nuclear products based on small modular reactors, development and performance verification of key technologies and equipment, as well as business model development and economic evaluation of marine nuclear products.

MSR is a type of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) that has recently attracted attention as a carbon-zero energy source to address the climate crisis. The nuclear fuel cycle lasts more than 20 years, matching the lifespan of ships, eliminating the need for replacement after a single installation. Additionally, the relatively small size of the reactor makes it easy to apply to ships. In particular, the reactor is designed so that if abnormal signals occur inside, the liquid nuclear fuel, molten salt, solidifies, fundamentally preventing major accidents. It also has the advantage of high safety and the ability to simultaneously produce high-efficiency electricity and hydrogen.

Park Won-seok, director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, said, "MSR is a carbon-free energy source that can efficiently respond to climate change issues, and the development of marine transport ships based on this technology will be a game changer in international logistics. We will make further efforts in MSR research and development together with Samsung Heavy Industries, which aims to pioneer the MSR-based nuclear-powered ship market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.