Chinese Engineers Unveil World's First Thorium-Powered Nuclear Cargo Ship
- MM24 News Desk
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Chinese engineers have revealed technical details for the world's largest nuclear-powered container ship, a revolutionary vessel powered by a thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR) with a thermal output of 200 megawatts. The ship, designed to carry 14,000 standard containers, could operate for years without refueling, representing a potential paradigm shift for global shipping and energy security, according to the publication Ship & Boat.
The breakthrough details were disclosed by Hu Keyi, a senior engineer with Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group, in an October 15 article. The reactor's 200MW of heat will power a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) generator using the Brayton cycle, a highly efficient process that converts heat into electricity. This system will generate 50MW of electrical power—enough to propel the massive ship indefinitely while emitting zero carbon during operation.
What makes this ship truly revolutionary is its choice of power source. Unlike traditional uranium reactors that require high-pressure containment and massive cooling systems, the thorium molten salt reactor operates at atmospheric pressure, eliminating the risk of explosive pressure build-up. “The thorium-fuelled solid-core molten salt reactor was inherently safe,” Hu stated in his technical paper. The reactor core runs at around 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit), but features a strong negative temperature coefficient that naturally slows the reaction as temperature rises, preventing meltdowns.
The safety systems are equally innovative. The design includes two passive decay heat removal systems and an emergency drain that can safely evacuate molten salt into shielded cooling tanks. In a worst-case scenario, the fuel would solidify, trapping radioactive materials. Furthermore, the entire reactor is a sealed, modular unit with a 10-year operational lifespan, after which it is replaced as a whole, drastically reducing refueling risks and human error.
The economic and strategic implications are profound. Thorium is not only safer but far more abundant than uranium. China holds vast thorium reserves, particularly in Inner Mongolia, where a single mine's tailings contain enough thorium to power the entire country for over 1,000 years. This energy independence could reshape global shipping logistics and geopolitics.
Despite the promise, significant hurdles remain. Hu acknowledged that “the capital cost of a nuclear-powered merchant ship is expected to be significantly higher than that of a conventional vessel.” Challenges include high upfront construction costs, difficulty securing private insurance, and the need for specialized crew training. “Commercial shipping projects may require government support or guarantees,” Hu wrote. “Private companies alone cannot bear such enormous construction and operational risks.”
The technological achievement builds on China's sustained investment in advanced nuclear technology. While the United States abandoned its thorium reactor program in the 1960s due to technical challenges like corrosion, China has persisted. In 2025, its experimental thorium molten salt reactor in the Gobi Desert became the world's first to achieve long-term stable operation, paving the way for this maritime application.
This container ship is just one part of China's broader nuclear maritime ambitions. Hu also revealed that engineers are exploring a Suezmax oil tanker powered by a lead-bismuth cooled fast reactor and a floating nuclear power station using high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. If successfully deployed, the thorium-powered ship could redefine not just commercial shipping but also naval engineering and deep-sea operations for decades to come.