Trio to develop nuclear power for ships

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR), Australian ship designer Seatransport and US engineering firm Deployable Energy have partnered to develop nuclear power for ships, including strategic response vessels in remote areas.

IMAGE: Illustration of a nuclear fusion reactor. Getty Images

Strategic response vessels are specialised ships designed to respond rapidly to maritime emergencies, including oil spills, search and rescue, and environmental protection operations.

This project will use micro modular reactor (MMR) technology. A 73-metre vessel designed for emergency response and disaster relief in remote areas will be powered by two to five MMRs, each with a capacity of 1 megawatt electrical (MWe).

MMR technology refers to compact nuclear reactors that can be integrated into ships to provide propulsion and onboard energy needs.

This will allow the vessel to operate for 8–10 years without refuelling and supply power to the shore grid in affected areas or while docked at port, according to LR.

By Tuhin Roy

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