ABS and KRISO Partner to Advance Nuclear Propulsion for Maritime Defense and Commercial Fleets

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and South Korea’s Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at accelerating the development of nuclear propulsion systems for maritime applications. This collaboration underscores growing global interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) as a low-emission energy source for both commercial shipping and next-generation naval platforms.

Strategic Context: Decarbonization Meets Naval Power Projection

The maritime sector is under increasing pressure to decarbonize under International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. Nuclear propulsion—long used in military submarines and aircraft carriers—offers zero-emission operation during use, high endurance, and strategic autonomy. These characteristics are now being re-examined for broader application beyond traditional military platforms.

For navies facing extended blue-water operations or seeking energy independence from fossil fuel logistics chains, nuclear power offers compelling advantages. Simultaneously, commercial operators are exploring whether SMRs can provide a long-term solution to regulatory pressure on carbon emissions while maintaining operational range without relying on bunkering infrastructure.

Details of the ABS-KRISO Memorandum

The MOU between ABS and KRISO focuses on technical collaboration in evaluating nuclear technologies suitable for marine environments. Specifically:

• Assessing design requirements for integrating small modular reactors into ship platforms
• Developing safety frameworks tailored to marine reactor operation
• Exploring lifecycle support models including fueling logistics and decommissioning
• Evaluating regulatory pathways under both Korean domestic law and international conventions such as SOLAS and MARPOL

This agreement builds on ABS’s existing experience with nuclear vessel classification dating back to its work with U.S. Navy nuclear-powered ships. KRISO brings advanced modeling capabilities and research infrastructure including test beds for hydrodynamics, structural integrity under radiation exposure, thermal management systems, and digital twin simulation environments.

Nuclear Propulsion in the Naval Domain: A Renewed Focus

Nuclear propulsion remains a cornerstone of strategic deterrence fleets such as ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) operated by the U.S., Russia, China, France, and the UK. However, mid-tier navies—including India’s—are increasingly investing in nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), recognizing their unmatched endurance compared to diesel-electric counterparts.

This MOU could signal South Korea’s long-term interest in developing indigenous SSN capabilities or hybrid surface combatants using SMRs—a possibility that aligns with Seoul’s ambitions amid regional tensions with North Korea. While South Korea does not currently operate any nuclear-powered vessels due to legal constraints on uranium enrichment under its civil nuclear agreements with the U.S., recent policy shifts suggest growing appetite for reevaluating these limitations.

Commercial Shipping Applications: Promise vs Practicality

The use of SMRs aboard commercial vessels is still largely conceptual but gaining traction as reactor designs become more compact and modularized. Several vendors—including NuScale Power (U.S.), Rolls-Royce SMR (UK), Seaborg Technologies (Denmark), Samsung Heavy Industries-KHNP consortium (South Korea)—are developing marine-adaptable SMRs with passive safety features designed for remote or mobile deployment.

Challenges remain significant:

• Lack of harmonized international regulation governing civilian marine reactors
• Public perception concerns over nuclear safety at sea
• Port access restrictions due to anti-nuclear policies in many jurisdictions
• Crew training requirements specific to reactor operation/licensing

Nonetheless, ABS has already initiated classification frameworks tailored for floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), a precursor step toward eventual shipboard integration. The partnership with KRISO may help bridge key technology readiness gaps through joint R&D efforts.

Korean Industrial Base Poised for Dual-Use Innovation

Korea’s shipbuilding giants—Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), Samsung Heavy Industries—have all signaled interest in integrating advanced power systems into future naval programs. HHI has collaborated with KEPCO E&C on marine reactor concepts since at least 2021.

The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has also developed compact reactor designs like SMART-P that could be adapted for mobile or maritime use cases. With KRISO now formally engaging ABS—a leading global classification society—the groundwork is being laid not only for regulatory alignment but also export-oriented platform development combining Korean hull construction expertise with Western certification standards.

Outlook: From Paperwork to Propellers?

The ABS-KRISO MOU does not yet commit either party to building a prototype vessel or reactor system but marks a significant step toward technical validation pathways necessary before any such program can proceed. Given the long lead times associated with both nuclear licensing and shipbuilding cycles—often exceeding a decade—the initiative should be viewed as foundational rather than imminent deployment.

If successful, this collaboration could position South Korea among a select group of nations capable of fielding next-generation surface combatants or auxiliary ships powered by domestic SMR technology—potentially altering regional naval balances while contributing meaningfully toward IMO decarbonization goals via dual-use innovation pathways.