Seatransport, a Queensland, Australia ship design group, entered a collaboration to develop nuclear power generation for different applications, including strategic response vessels in remote areas. 

The company will partner with Houston-based Deployable Energy and Lloyd’s Register (LR).

Using micro modular reactor (MMR) technology, two to five MMRs of 1MWe capacity each will power a 73-meter  amphibious vessel, designed for emergency response and disaster relief duties in remote areas. This will enable the vessel to operate for 8 to 10 years without refueling, and it can feed power into the shore grid of affected areas and when it is docked at a port.

LR, a global professional maritime services group with expertise in maritime and nuclear innovation, is leading the program to ensure quality, protocols and safety aspects are established and followed.

“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, in a statement. “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 defense sector further demonstrates our commitment to safety and innovation.”