The government will expand international cooperation in maritime nuclear power as it targets starting construction of a small modular reactor (SMR)-powered ship by 2035.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said First Vice Minister Ku Hyuk-chae (구혁채) will attend the launch ceremony of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) initiative ATLAS (Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea) in Washington, D.C., from Aug. 26 to 27 as South Korea’s chief representative.

ATLAS is an international cooperation framework for the safe and responsible use of maritime nuclear power. International bodies in nuclear and maritime fields, including the IAEA and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will cooperate to discuss safety, security, safeguards, laws and regulation, and international standards needed to introduce maritime nuclear power.

Maritime nuclear technologies such as nuclear-powered ships and floating nuclear power plants are drawing attention as the importance of responding to climate change and energy security increases. The government is pushing to develop SMR-powered ships to be applied in maritime transport through the K-Moonshot project in the SMR sector, which it selected as one of seven SEED future growth engines.

The ministry’s goal is to complete an overall design for an SMR-powered ship and begin construction by 2035. To that end, it will push ahead in stages with a basic design, verification of key equipment and development of core technologies, and build safety and regulatory systems, specialised manpower and related infrastructure.

In a keynote speech at the ATLAS launch ceremony, Ku introduced technologies and experience accumulated in the domestic nuclear power and shipbuilding and marine sectors, as well as the status of preparations for maritime nuclear power. He stressed that international trust and cooperation are needed in addition to technology development for the use of maritime nuclear power, and expressed his intention to actively participate in international discussions on safety, security, safeguards and regulatory systems.

“Maritime nuclear power is a field that will open up new possibilities for future energy and maritime transport,” Ku said. “South Korea will work with the international community through ATLAS to build the future of safe and responsible maritime nuclear power.”