Korean industry majors, led by shipping heavyweights HMM and Sinokor, have joined forces on the development of nuclear-powered ships, reports Lloyd’s List.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by representatives of Gyeongju city, the Gyeongbuk Province, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the Korean Research Institute of Ship & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), the Korean Register, Wooyang Shipping Co, Sinokor, H-Line, and HMM.
Nuclear reactors to propel ships
Under the agreement, the partners aim to develop and demonstrate how small modular nuclear reactors can be used to propel ships. The project will also investigate the development of relevant marine system interface and propulsion technology as well as the production of hydrogen using molten salt reactors (MSR).
“At this moment, collaborative partnerships with various industrial players are essential to study future alternative fuels so that this MoU can represent a meaningful step forward in a journey to the decarbonization of the shipping industry,” an HMM Spokesperson told Offshore Energy.
“HMM is exploring a range of clean fuels or technologies with low or zero carbon emissions, and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology is one of them.”
The parties also agreed to work on promoting the safety of maritime-nuclear power system operation, as well as developing the industrial infrastructure, training experts in the maritime nuclear-power operation, and designing the related regulatory framework.
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Source: Lloyd’s List
