Classification society DNV has awarded HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a pioneering 15,000 TEU container vessel design powered by Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, unveiled this week at the KORMARINE trade fair in Busan.
The AiP presentation was attended by Sungkon Han, Executive Vice President of the Green Energy Research Lab at HD KSOE, Geir Dugstad, Technical Director at DNV, and Ole Christen Reistad, Senior Principal Researcher and nuclear research lead at DNV. The team discussed the project’s outcomes and the potential of nuclear propulsion in the maritime sector.
The new vessel concept demonstrates how SMR technology can be applied to large container ships, enabling operations at 24 knots. It features a supercritical CO₂-based power generation system, offering higher thermal efficiency and a smaller equipment footprint compared to conventional steam systems. DNV reviewed the conceptual design according to SOLAS Chapter VIII and the IMO Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships, confirming compliance with key safety and regulatory standards.
Dr. Kwangpil Chang, CTO of HD KSOE, highlighted the project’s significance:
“This SMR-powered container vessel concept represents a key milestone in our efforts to explore alternative fuels for decarbonizing shipping. The design focuses intensely on safety and the advancement of propulsion systems using SMR technology. We have developed a novel shielding and containment system to ensure reactor safety and vessel survivability even in extreme scenarios such as collisions, groundings, or sinkings.”
In developing the concept, HD KSOE collaborated closely with DNV to evaluate the vessel’s safety systems, power supply architecture, and overall operational integrity. Earlier this year, in May 2025, both organizations conducted a HAZID (Hazard Identification) workshop at DNV’s Oslo headquarters to assess potential risks and guide design improvements.
DNV’s Geir Dugstad noted:
“With growing environmental pressures and technological advances, nuclear propulsion is regaining attention as a possible path toward maritime decarbonization. This AiP marks an important first step in verifying nuclear vessel designs, and we are proud to recognize HD KSOE’s progress in this innovative area.”
The approval aligns with DNV’s broader efforts to explore nuclear energy’s potential in commercial shipping. The classification society recently published a white paper on nuclear-powered vessels, addressing topics such as reactor technologies, fuel and waste management, safety protocols, and supply chain oversight.
An Approval in Principle (AiP) serves as an independent verification confirming that a conceptual design meets core safety and feasibility criteria, with no major technical barriers to future implementation.