Korean SMR 'SMART100' Heads Offshore with Approval in Principle from ABS

The floating marine nuclear power platform equipped with the Korean small modular reactor (SMR) 'SMART100' has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). This means that the concept of an offshore nuclear power plant, jointly developed by a domestic research institute and the shipbuilding industry, has been recognized for its technical safety according to international classification standards.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Samsung Heavy Industries announced that the conceptual design for the floating marine nuclear power platform based on SMART100 has passed verification by the American Bureau of Shipping. The ABS is an international classification society that evaluates the safety of ships and offshore structures. It granted class approval to the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship, the N.S. Savannah, allowing it to operate. In September, ABS also granted Approval in Principle for an LNG carrier equipped with a molten salt reactor (MSR), a project jointly promoted by the two organizations.

Floating SMR (FSMR) equipped with SMART100, currently in conceptual design by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Samsung Heavy Industries. Provided by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

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This approval is significant as it internationally confirms the possibility of expanding conventional land-based SMRs into offshore energy platforms. Floating nuclear power plants have strong potential for marine power generation, supplying electricity to islands and remote areas, and serving as power sources for offshore plants.

SMART100 is an integrated pressurized water reactor with an electric output of 110 megawatts (MW). It was developed by enhancing output and safety based on SMART, which received the world’s first standard design approval for an SMR in 2012. Its thermal output has been increased to 365 MW and electric output to 110 MW, and it incorporates safety standards strengthened after the Fukushima accident.

Concept design of SMART100 applied Safety Containment Vessel (SCV). Provided by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

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In particular, a fully passive safety system that cools the reactor core and containment vessel using natural forces without external power, as well as an automatic seismic shutdown system, have been applied. The two organizations redesigned these features for the marine environment and developed a new concept containment vessel and marine passive safety system for installation on floating structures. The acquisition of AiP verifies the technical feasibility of these marine-specific design adaptations.

The two organizations plan to continue joint research and development with the goal of realizing a floating marine nuclear power platform. Cho Jin-young, Director of the Advanced Reactor Research Institute at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, said, "The fact that the SMART100-based offshore nuclear power plant concept has been recognized for its safety according to international classification standards is a significant achievement," adding, "We will continue to develop technologies to lead the marine nuclear power industry."

Ahn Young-kyu, Head of the Technology Development Division (Senior Vice President) at Samsung Heavy Industries, stated, "This AiP is an important milestone in pioneering the offshore nuclear power market," and added, "We will continue to develop safe and economical offshore nuclear power plants based on our shipbuilding and marine engineering expertise."

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