Cargo ships are responsible for roughly 3% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide (as much as a small country), and alternative fuel options suffer from a variety of problems such as low power density and the need for fossil fuels in production. By contrast, nuclear reactors have high power density, low fuel cost, and have been used safely and successfully in marine propulsion for over 50 years.

Our project is to design a pair of small modular reactors (SMRs) to power a 14,000 TEU containership. These reactors will be based on successful pressurized water reactors (PWRs) developed for use in Russian nuclear icebreakers. Power output, control mechanisms, active and passive safety features, fuel enrichment, and refueling schedule will be determined via modeling in SCALE. This holistic project will also address safety, economics, regulations, routes, and public opinion.