China has unveiled a conceptual design for what could become the world's largest nuclear-powered container ship. The vessel will be powered by molten salt reactors with a capacity to carry 24,000 standard containers, offering a true "zero-emissions" alternative.

The Jiangnan Shipyard under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited officially released the design on Tuesday at Marintec China 2023, a premier maritime exhibition held in Shanghai this week, Science and Technology Daily reported.

The vessel, which has yet to be named, has obtained certification from the DNV Classification Society, one of the leading international shipping industry bodies.

High tech for 'zero-emissions'

According to industry statistics, shipping operations account for about 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The International Maritime Organization has repeatedly pledged to reduce emissions caused by shipping businesses.

Shipbuilders around the world have been under huge pressure from shipping businesses, investors and environmentalists to find cleaner fuel solutions. The Jiangnan Shipyard said that the idea for a nuclear-powered container ship was the result of its endeavor to seek clean energy solutions for its products. 

The new ship will use fourth-generation molten salt reactor technology, which features a very high level of operational safety and an abundance of fail-safe measures, for the first time in China, marking a revolutionary achievement by the shipyard in the development of "zero-emissions" ships.

Safe, efficient design

According to nuclear technology experts, a molten salt reactor is a class of nuclear fission reactor in which both the primary coolant and fuel are a critical concentration of a fissile material dissolved in molten salt.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that such reactors have been regarded as a promising advanced solution because of the various benefits associated with them. These reactors can operate at higher temperatures, which leads to increased efficiencies in power generation.

The low operating pressures inside a molten salt reactor can reduce the risk of a large break and loss of coolant as a result of an accident, thereby enhancing the safety of the reactor. Also, they generate less high-level radioactive waste, and their design does not require solid fuel, eliminating buildup and the need for disposal, said the IAEA.

The Jiangnan Shipyard said its new design has high safety standards, as the reactor runs under high temperature and low pressure, avoiding reactor meltdown from principle. Even if a breach accident takes place, the reactor can be stopped quickly so it would not spread. 

In addition, the ship will feature high speed, easy controls and more space for containers, according to the shipyard. 

This new vessel will also adopt a convenient and fast replacement solution for "battery," which will be replaced every 15 to 20 years, said the shipyard, adding that there is no need to worry about green fuel price fluctuations and refueling issues.