Lloyd’s Register (LR) has joined forces with a group of Korean shipbuilding, marine services and nuclear research organisations to advance a joint development project (JDP) exploring the integration of a small modular reactor (SMR) into a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).

Partnering with LR are Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), Hyundai Glovis, G-Marine Service and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI).

The study examined how a molten salt reactor (MSR) could be physically and operationally integrated into a large vehicle carrier. Work covered the internal arrangement and segregation of the reactor system, shielding requirements, and the impact on cargo deck layout and vehicle capacity, alongside stability and trim implications linked to the reactor’s weight and positioning.

Propulsion system configuration and power delivery was also assessed, as well as operational flexibility compared with conventionally fuelled PCTCs, where trade routes and port calls can be tightly constrained.

LR led hazard identification (HAZID) and preliminary risk assessment work on the project, focusing on containment, onboard safety systems and potential operability constraints associated with nuclear technology at sea.

Sung-Gu Park, President — North East Asia at Lloyd’s Register, stated: “While nuclear propulsion is still at an early stage of development, this project shows the importance of building technical understanding now to support future progress. Establishing feasibility at concept stage is a valuable step forward, particularly in areas such as cargo optimisation, vessel stability and integrated safety design.”

Hong-Ryeul Ryu, CTO and Senior Executive Vice President at HD HHI, commented: “With global environmental regulations becoming increasingly stringent and no definitive net-zero fuel yet available, SMR-powered ships can serve as a highly effective alternative, representing a pioneering next-generation maritime technology capable of complying with GHG emission regulations while allowing lifetime operation without refuelling.”

A spokesperson from Hyundai Glovis, which operates one of the world’s largest PCTC fleets, said the study had “demonstrated the technical feasibility of nuclear-assisted propulsion for large vehicle carriers, while also highlighting broader future potential in vessel design and operational flexibility”. The company has committed to net-zero by 2045 and described nuclear-assisted propulsion as “a credible long-term option worthy of further development.”

G-Marine Service explained that the project was relevant not only for assessing technical feasibility but also for examining how SMR-based propulsion could be integrated into real operating environments, “including onboard safety, maintainability, crew support and long-term operational reliability.”

KAERI described the study as meaningful for assessing the potential application of SMRs in the maritime sector, noting that it had examined the technical feasibility of applying an MSR-type marine SMR to a specific target vessel. “KAERI will continue its efforts, through sustained verification and demonstration, to help ensure that this technology contributes to carbon neutrality in maritime transport,” a spokesperson noted.

Alongside the AiP ceremony, LR convened a closed-door roundtable on 1 June at the Athens Olympic Museum, bringing together around 20 senior representatives from shipowners, reactor developers, regulators and industry bodies to discuss the technical, regulatory and commercial steps required to advance nuclear-powered shipping. The session was held on the sidelines of Posidonia 2026.