Norway’s designer and shipbuilder of specialized vessels Vard will evaluate fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications as part of the NuProShip project, short for Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping.
The shipbuilder is collaborating with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Ålesund and other key stakeholders in the NuProShip I project, which explores nuclear propulsion for the maritime sector.
The project has conducted a comprehensive review of 99 companies developing advanced reactor technologies, resulting in the selection of three reactor types: the Fluoride high-temperature molten salt reactor using TRISO fuel particles by Kairos Power (USA), the Helium-cooled gas reactor also employing TRISO fuel particles by Ultrasafe (USA), and the Lead-cooled reactor concept utilizing uranium oxide as fuel from Blykalla (Sweden).
The NuProShip project is supported by prominent partners, including DNV, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, ship owner Knutsen Tankers, and the Spanish nuclear consultancy IDOM.
Vard’s primary contribution involves integrating these reactor systems into various vessel types, assessing the technical challenges to enable the future commercial use of nuclear-powered ships.
The NuProShip I project, which concluded on December 31, will pave the way for NuProShip II, a two-year project with the aim to further refine solutions for nuclear propulsion in maritime applications.
This next phase will bring insurance companies into the consortium, a vital step in assessing the business viability of nuclear technology in the shipping industry.
The NuProShip projects are funded by the Research Council of Norway.
