Lloyd’s Register to lead marine microreactor project

Working alongside Queensland ship design group Seatransport and Houston-based Deployable Energy, Lloyd’s Register (LR) plans to develop nuclear power generation for a range of different marine applications.

At the fore is a 73m amphibious stern landing vessel (SLV) designed for emergency response and disaster relief in remote areas. Powered by two to five 1MWe micro modular reactors (MMRs), the RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) ship would be capable of operating for up to 10 years without refuelling while also providing low carbon power to local grids when at port.

Operating out of Fiji – which acts as the centre for South West Pacific disaster response – these vessels could provide relief to surrounding countries within days, compared to weeks if aid had to travel from Australia or New Zealand. The project partners claim that a single SLV could deliver containerised emergency shelter, medical facilities and toilets to accommodate up to 750 people affected by disaster. 

“As nuclear technology progresses towards maritime applications, LR is uniquely positioned to help develop these initiatives,” said Claudene Sharp-Patel, LR's global technical director.

“We bring our extensive history in maritime and nuclear safety, providing a strong foundation for safe, insurable, and scalable nuclear-powered shipping. Our extensive experience with small modular reactors in the defence sector further demonstrates our commitment to safety and innovation.” 

For remote areas visited regularly by the SLVs, a simple concrete ramp and berthing pile are all that would be required for the vessels to operate. Longer term docking solutions around Fiji’s coast could include cyclone-proof mini-ports where the ships could shelter in extreme weather conditions while continuing to provide clean power to regional grids. Project partner Seatransport estimates that a single SLV operating out of Fiji’s Lautoka Port, providing year-round night time power to complement daytime solar, would reduce the country’s diesel consumption by more than five million litres.