China Unveils Specifications for Thorium Reactor Cargo Ship

Revolutionary Nuclear-Powered Cargo Ship Detailed

China has unveiled detailed specifications for a revolutionary nuclear-powered cargo ship, marking a significant technological breakthrough in maritime engineering and energy innovation. The vessel is designed to carry up to 14,000 standard shipping containers and will be powered by a thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR). This development positions China at the forefront of nuclear-powered shipping innovation, aiming to transform long-haul maritime transport operations.

Advanced Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Technology

At the heart of this new vessel is a 200 MW thermal thorium molten salt reactor, a power level comparable to the S6W pressurized water reactor used in the US Navy's advanced Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarines. Unlike traditional uranium or pressurized-water reactors, the TMSR operates using molten fluoride salts as both fuel and coolant. This design allows the system to function at low pressure but high temperature, enhancing safety and thermal efficiency. The reactor utilizes thorium-232, an abundant element in China, which breeds uranium-233 as its fissile material. This technology eliminates the need for vast volumes of high-pressure steam and cooling water, making the system more compact and inherently safer for maritime use.

Design, Safety, and Operational Efficiency

The ship's design incorporates advanced shielding and containment systems, compact reactor control rooms, and redundant safety loops. A key safety feature of the molten salt reactor is its ability to operate without requiring water for cooling, and in the event of a cooling failure, the molten salt immediately solidifies, preventing radioactivity leaks. The reactor also features a negative temperature coefficient, which naturally decreases reactivity as temperature increases, mitigating the risk of runaway reactions. The 200 MW thermal energy generated by the reactor is converted into electricity through a supercritical CO₂ Brayton cycle, achieving a high thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency of nearly 45-50 percent, significantly higher than conventional marine engines. This allows the ship to operate for several years without refueling. For emergency operations or port maneuvering, the vessel is equipped with secondary diesel backup generators providing around 10 MW of auxiliary power.

Strategic Impact and Future Outlook

The development of this thorium-powered cargo ship is a culmination of a decade of parallel work involving entities such as the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Shanghai Marine Design and Research Institute, and Jiangnan Shipyard. The project builds on China's earlier success with the TMSR-LF1, a 2 MW experimental molten salt reactor completed in Gansu province in 2021. If successfully deployed, this technology could dramatically reduce global shipping emissions, as thorium reactors produce zero greenhouse gases during operation. China views thorium as a strategic resource, possessing some of the world's largest reserves, which could provide a significant advantage in developing non-uranium-based nuclear fuel cycles. While the design phase is projected to be completed in 2026 with construction potentially commencing towards the end of this decade, challenges remain, including higher construction and operating costs and international regulatory hurdles. This 14,000 TEU design is part of a broader push, with other conceptual designs, such as the KUN-24AP for a 24,000 TEU vessel, also being unveiled by Chinese shipyards.