China has unveiled a massive cargo ship capable of carrying 14,000 containers. This ship will be powered by a thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR) that generates 200 megawatts of heat.
China has revealed details of a cargo ship powered by nuclear energy that can carry 14,000 standard shipping containers. The ship is planned to generate 50 megawatts of electrical power, which will be sufficient to cross oceans for years without refueling. A 10-megawatt diesel generator will also be available for emergencies. The heat from the reactor feeds a supercritical carbon dioxide generator operating on the Brayton cycle, rather than directly powering the propellers. This system is up to 50 percent more efficient than traditional steam turbines at converting heat into electricity.
It is stated that there is no risk of explosion because the reactor operates at atmospheric pressure. In the event of overheating, the molten fuel solidifies in a special compartment, trapping the radiation. It is reported that the entire reactor module has a 10-year lifespan, and at the end of this period, instead of reloading fuel, the module is completely replaced, reducing human error and the risk of leakage.
A major leap forward compared to traditional nuclear systems
Another noteworthy aspect is that the reactor's efficiency is between 45 and 50 percent. This efficiency represents a significant leap forward compared to traditional nuclear systems. It is emphasized that the reactor's power is on par with the reactors used in the U.S. Navy's “Seawolf” class nuclear submarines.
China is also working on other nuclear ship projects, such as a lead-bismuth-cooled oil tanker and a floating power plant with a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. The country's abundant thorium reserves stand out as Beijing's biggest asset. It is known that the mines in the Inner Mongolia region alone contain reserves sufficient to meet China's energy needs for 1,000 years.
China achieved a world first in 2025 by operating its experimental thorium reactor in the Gobi Desert for an extended period.
