I’m not up to speed on molten salt reactors, anyone able to enlighten me?
Way to go.
Australia should do it too.
No it is NOT the same technology as used on the Savannah, or even in modern submarines:
If we can decarbonise shipping, we can decarbonise the world
Leverage America’s advanced nuclear comparative advantage
- American policy should treat advanced nuclear maritime applications like the Space Race. The Nation’s laws and regulations should pour policy entrepreneurship and resources into gaining first mover status as the global leader in maritime nuclear. America is already leading the world in the development of small modular reactors (SMR). This is the future of maritime propulsion. Transportable, floating power generation will be a key to energy security and climate resiliency, as well as a host of other high value activities that can take place safely across the 71% of the earth’s surface encompassed by the ocean. Fast, clean, safe, commercial nuclear propulsion, will unlock entirely new business models, redesign global trade patterns, and enable high speed direct to market/ship eVTOL tradelanes, additive manufacturing, large scale vertical farming, desalination, carbon capture, ocean uranium harvesting, and many dual-use applications — all at sea, backed by well designed, marinized SMR systems. American policymakers must prioritize streamlining licensing, regulatory, and financing pathways to unleash this potential at the pace of relevance.
The one question that will determine the fate of this idea:
Will these ships be insurable?
Why not?? The reactors to be used in these ships will be small compact units of a VERY different type from what was used in the 1960s attempt at building nuclear powered merchant ships:
The conversion of power from the reactor to the propulsion system will also be VERY different from that on the Savanah or San Diego:
More of a question will be the public reaction when such a ship calls at a port near them.
What is likely to be the reaction when a ship like this is due to steam up Chesapeake Bay, bound for the Gates terminal in Baltimore?
Let’s assume that it is a foreign flag vessel, manned by a small mixed international crew and, to make it worse, built in China.
Luckily this is not likely to happen for at least another decade, or more.
Maybe the public will be more accepting of new technology by that time.