The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted an Approval in Principle (AIP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering for their floating small modular reactor (SMR)-powered module concept.

This design aims to facilitate electricity generation both offshore and near shore, with potential applications for port facilities and onshore communities.

It is the second approval for a floating nuclear power barge concept from HD KSOE and marks a continuation of their extensive collaboration with ABS, which includes another power barge design and a 15,000 TEU nuclear-propelled containership.

ABS senior vice president and chief technology officer Patrick Ryan said: “Floating nuclear power facilities show promise in supporting power grids, microgrids, industrial and port operations, data centres, and other uses.

“Additionally, today’s advanced nuclear technology has a different risk profile from traditional reactor technology with state-of-the-art designs and with lower enrichment fuels, making commercial offshore and maritime applications more viable.”

ABS's design reviews were conducted in accordance with the ABS Requirements for Nuclear Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications.

An official from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering said: “The floating nuclear power plant is expected to play a key role in building a future powered by clean energy. We will remain fully committed to developing the necessary technologies and ensuring its successful realisation.”

In a related development, ABS has recently partnered with Pusan National University through a memorandum of understanding to further hydrogen technologies within the maritime sector, concentrating on the development of liquid hydrogen carriers and cryogenic engineering.