Lloyd’s Register to lead marine microreactor project
Nuclear microreactors for vessels responding to remote disaster situations are being explored as part of a new project led by Lloyd’s Register.
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.
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