MIT Maritime Consortium wins ABS approval

Maritime classification and certification organization the American Bureau of Shipping has granted its approval in principle (AIP) for the integration of a nuclear reactor into a cargo vessel propulsion system, as developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Maritime Consortium. This is the first AIP to be granted to a technology developed through the consortium, which includes founding members MIT, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Capital Maritime Group.

Supporting modular construction: The consortium's design for the nuclear propulsion system is based on a synthetic fluid that carries heat away from the reactor core. According to ABS, the design has a "near-atmospheric operating pressure [that] can allow for thinner, lighter reactor vessels, supporting modular construction and easier transport."

ABS senior vice president and chief technology officer Patrick Ryan said of the AIP that it "highlights the value of collaboration with key stakeholders in advancing promising commercial nuclear technologies. The MIT reactor design is an interesting piece of technology. With characteristics that can support modular fabrication and vessel integration, these emerging technologies represent one possible pathway toward the safe, practical development of next-generation commercial shipping solutions."

Themis Sapsis, Koch Professor of Marine Technology at MIT and codirector of the consortium, said the reactor design "is one of the first concrete outcomes of this synergy [of the collaboration], providing a realistic pathway towards nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels."

Background: Founded last year, the MIT Maritime Consortium describes itself as "a unique collaboration between academia, industry, and regulatory agencies committed to the development of bold technological solutions, industry standards, and policies that will create competitive advantage in the maritime space and minimize environmental impact."

The group recently held its 3rd Review Meeting in Athens, Greece, where the AIP was announced. The meeting also featured updates on submitted patents, publications, U.S. legislation, and several web-based AI applications for decision-making and performance analysis.