Korea approves world-first LNG carrier powered by molten salt reactor

South Korea has approved the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier powered by a small modular molten salt reactor (MSR), marking a significant advancement in clean maritime propulsion. Developed collaboratively by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Samsung Heavy Industries, the vessel received an Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping and the Liberian flag state on September 9, 2025. This certification confirms that the ship’s design, featuring a 100-megawatt thermal molten salt reactor, complies with international safety and regulatory standards. The MSR technology is notable for using a liquid fuel mixture of nuclear material and molten salt, differing from traditional solid-fuel reactors, and is designed to operate throughout the ship’s entire lifespan without refueling. The molten salt reactor offers high safety, excellent energy efficiency, and the potential to reduce maintenance and operational interruptions typically associated with conventional nuclear propulsion systems. This innovation aims to contribute to carbon neutrality in the