The movement to reintroduce nuclear energy into commercial shipping is gaining traction. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and South Korea's HD Hyundai shipbuilding group have teamed up to study nuclear-powered propulsion for large containerships.
On Monday, ABS, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HD HSHI) announced they signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) to explore the design of a nuclear-powered electric propulsion system for a 16,000-TEU containership.
This project will evaluate the technical feasibility of combining nuclear energy with electric propulsion, focusing on creating a design framework for next-generation ultra-large container vessels.
Matthew Mueller, ABS Vice President of North Pacific Business Development, stated, “This project is a key step in exploring the potential of a nuclear-powered electric propulsion system for container vessels. By leveraging HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding skills and ABS’ extensive maritime safety expertise, we aim to assess technologies that can lead to safer, more efficient, and lower-emission operations for the future of propulsion.”
As part of the agreement, HD KSOE and HD HSHI will create the basic vessel design, specifications for electrical components, and system arrangements specifically for the nuclear-powered electric propulsion system aimed at containerships.
HD Hyundai emphasizes that this initiative highlights the growing interest in carbon-free propulsion technologies, especially as shipowners are under increasing pressure to meet global decarbonization goals.
“In response to the rising demand for eco-friendly ships, we are committed to developing electric propulsion systems powered by nuclear energy—a carbon-free energy source,” said Kwon Byung-hun, Head of the Electrification Center at HD KSOE. “We will enhance our research and development efforts to boost our competitiveness in nuclear-related electric propulsion.”
This project is part of a larger trend involving nuclear-themed maritime initiatives with ABS and South Korean shipbuilders. They are looking into small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor designs for ship propulsion and offshore energy generation.
In September 2025, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Samsung Heavy Industries were granted the world's first Approval in Principle (AiP) for a nuclear-powered LNG carrier using a 100 MWth molten salt reactor (MSR).
Earlier in June 2025, ABS also approved HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD KSOE for a floating SMR nuclear power module designed to generate offshore electricity for ports, coastal grids, and industrial facilities.
Beyond propulsion and power, researchers are looking into nuclear-powered infrastructure at sea. A study from ABS and Herbert Engineering proposed floating nuclear-powered data centers that would use SMR reactors on barges to provide carbon-free electricity for energy-intensive AI computing centers while using seawater for cooling.
These projects indicate a growing interest in nuclear technology as a long-term solution for the shipping industry's decarbonization challenges, especially as it faces issues related to cost, availability, and infrastructure for alternative fuels like green methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.
However, there are still significant challenges to overcome before nuclear-powered commercial ships become a reality. These include regulatory frameworks, port acceptance, insurance structures, crew training, and general public acceptance of nuclear technology operating in global shipping lanes.
Currently, initiatives like the ABS–HD Hyundai collaboration are still in the conceptual and feasibility phases, but they highlight how quickly nuclear energy is re-entering discussions about future maritime propulsion.
As the global shipping sector searches for scalable zero-carbon energy solutions, nuclear power—previously abandoned after early experiments in the 20th century—may be quietly making its way back to the high seas.