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Jiangnan Shipyard unveils design for huge nuclear-powered container ship - TradeWinds

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Jiangnan Shipyard unveils design for huge nuclear-powered container ship | TradeWinds

China’s Jiangnan Shipyard hopes to build the world’s first vessel powered by new molten salt reactor (MSR) technology.

A prototype for a huge 24,000-teu nuclear-powered container ship was unveiled at the Marintec China exhibition this week.

Molten salt reactors are claimed by their developers to be safer and more efficient than uranium reactors used previously in warships.

Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: nuclear

State of Play

Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. Advocates have called for an expanded role for nuclear as an emissions-free fuel source. But the economics of building new reactors are daunting. In addition, lingering safety concerns are an institutionalized part of the calculation of nuclear regulation, and highly radioactive nuclear waste remains a can that public officials have been inclined to kick down the road. The Energy Information Administration projects a sharp decline in nuclear power generation over the next decade, as new nuclear plants — two are planned — are more than offset by anticipated retirements of several operating reactors.

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