Molten Salt Reactor Feasibility for a Pure Car and Truck Carrier

Lloyd’s Register, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) evaluated the feasibility of installing a molten-salt small modular reactor (SMR) on a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), analyzing reactor placement, shielding, cargo-deck layout, vehicle capacity, and vessel stability and trim.

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Nuclear marine propulsion is still early-stage, while maritime GHG regulations tighten and no proven net-zero fuel exists for large vessels. The study therefore explores SMR technology as a potential route to meet emission limits and provide continuous power without refueling.

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The partners are Lloyd’s Register, providing safety and risk analysis; HHI, leading ship design; and KSOE, supplying engineering expertise. Project leaders include Sung-Gu Park, President – North East Asia at Lloyd’s Register, and Hong-Ryeul Ryu, CTO and Senior Executive Vice President at HHI.

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The study mapped the reactor’s internal arrangement, segregation from cargo spaces, and shielding needed to protect crew and freight. It examined how reactor mass affects trim and stability and identified cargo-deck modifications that retain vehicle capacity. Propulsion configuration and power delivery were compared with diesel-powered PCTCs, noting potential gains in operational flexibility and reduced reliance on port refueling.

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If viable, SMR-powered carriers could meet strict GHG limits while operating for their service life without refueling, offering a pathway to decarbonize heavy-duty maritime transport. Continuous nuclear power may also expand route flexibility by lessening fuel-availability constraints and port-schedule dependencies.

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Lloyd’s Register said early-stage nuclear propulsion research is essential for building technical understanding, noting that concept-level feasibility studies address cargo optimization, vessel stability and integrated safety design. HHI asserted that SMR-powered ships can comply with tightening emission rules, operate without refueling for their lifetime, and position the company at the forefront of sustainable maritime technology.

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The study provides no quantitative performance metrics or independent safety validation, leaving measurable outcomes unspecified.

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> “While nuclear propulsion is still at an early stage of development, this project shows the importance of building technical understanding now to support future progress,” — Sung-Gu Park, President – North East Asia, Lloyd’s Register

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> “Establishing feasibility at concept stage is a valuable step forward, particularly in areas such as cargo optimization, vessel stability and integrated safety design.” — Sung-Gu Park, President – North East Asia, Lloyd’s Register

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> “With global environmental regulations becoming increasingly stringent and no definitive net-zero fuel yet available, SMR-powered ships can serve as a highly effective alternative, representing a pioneering next-generation maritime technology capable of complying with GHG emission regulations while allowing lifetime operation without refueling, and HD HHI will remain at the forefront of sustainable maritime technology development,” — Hong-Ryeul Ryu, CTO and Senior Executive Vice President, Hyundai Heavy Industries

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The partners intend further detailed engineering studies and risk assessments to move the concept toward prototype development and regulatory review.

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