HD Hyundai Shipbuilding is working to accelerate its efforts to commercialize small modular reactors (SMRs) through a new agreement collaborating with the nuclear industry and universities. The goal of this collaboration is to combine the design and manufacturing capabilities of the shipbuilding industry with the expertise of the nuclear industry and universities to expedite the commercialization of SMR technology.
Development of SMR Technology and New Ships
By linking various areas of expertise and technology, HD Hyundai has announced that it will assist in the development, testing, certification, and demonstration of SMR technology. This next phase in the efforts to develop SMR technology aims to provide energy for the next generation of ships. Last year, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) introduced the first model of a 15,000 TEU container ship that uses SMR technology for propulsion. The company has also emphasized that it received initial design approval for this SMR container ship from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
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Design and Manufacturing Benefits
HD KSOE has pointed out that SMR technology does not require exhaust systems or fuel tanks. In the design of this ship, the space typically used for a large engine in a container ship has been optimized for additional container placement. In addition to the inherent advantages of SMR technology, HD Hyundai has also implemented a marine radiation protection system using a dual-tank method with stainless steel materials and lightweight water storage.
Last year, HD KSOE announced plans to establish a marine nuclear testing center. This center will open at the company's Future Technologies Center in Yangjin, South Korea, to validate the safety of SMR designs.
In the shipping industry, interest in the potential applications of SMR-powered ships continues to grow. Hyundai Glovis, a leader in automotive transportation and logistics, announced last week that it is collaborating with American logistics company Liberty Global Logistics to explore the operations of SMR-powered workboats on routes between Korea and the United States.
The Korean government has also been promoting the development of SMR technology and has taken steps to support and accelerate the development of this technology as part of what is called the K-Moonshot initiative. This initiative aims to support the shipbuilding, nuclear, and marine technology industries to collaborate in the development of SMR technology.
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