China has revealed plans for the world’s first thorium-powered cargo ship, a technological milestone that could reshape global shipping and naval engineering.
A Chinese shipyard on Tuesday revealed the design of the world's first and largest nuclear-powered 24,000 TEU container ship, Global Times reported. pic.twitter.com/eQIQJUXxJt
— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) December 5, 2023
The 14,000-container vessel will run on a 200-megawatt thorium molten salt reactor (TMSR), which is smaller, safer, and more efficient than traditional uranium-based reactors, according to Ship & Boat magazine.
Developed by the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group, the reactor uses a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle to generate 50 megawatts of electricity—enough to cross oceans for years without refueling.
The 2-MW Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) in northwest China's Gansu Province has successfully achieved the first-ever thorium to uranium nuclear fuel conversion and obtained valid experimental data following thorium fuel loading, making it currently the only operational… pic.twitter.com/bbrXSiuSoR
— China Science (@ChinaScience) November 4, 2025
Engineers claim the design is meltdown-proof, operating at normal pressure with built-in passive safety systems that trap radiation if overheating occurs.
China’s thorium reserves could power the nation for over a millennium, researchers say.
However, analysts warn of high capital costs, insurance challenges, and regulatory hurdles that could slow adoption. Still, Beijing’s nuclear breakthrough signals a bold step toward next-generation maritime technology.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
