Conceptual design of nuclear-powered icebreaker unveiled

China State Shipbuilding Corp, the world's largest shipbuilder, is promoting a new conceptual design of a nuclear-powered multi-role icebreaker that can ferry both passengers and cargo.

According to the design, the nuclear-powered passenger-cargo icebreaker, which has yet to be named, will be used on Arctic routes to meet the needs of seasonal cargo transport and polar tourism. The overall design has received an "approval in principle" certificate from Italian classification and certification company RINA.

Designed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China, a CSSC subsidiary in Shanghai, the icebreaker model will be approximately 165 meters long, about 30 meters wide and will displace nearly 30,000 metric tons of water.

It will be able to travel in any sea around the world and carry around 150 polar tourists, with a maximum capacity of 250 people.

Cui Meng, a polar vessel engineer at the institute, said the vessel is tailored to polar environment, featuring cold insulation and noise and vibration control capabilities.

Combined with high-standard air conditioning, ventilation and accommodations, the ship model can create a "luxurious, immersive and safe" polar travel experience for passengers, Cui said.

In addition, the icebreaker will boast strong transportation capacity, with its cargo area capable of accommodating 300 standard 20-foot containers. Thanks to a flexible modular design, it will also be capable of holding very large or irregularly shaped cargoes, he added.

The vessel will be capable of breaking 2.5-meter-thick ice at a speed of 3.7 kilometers per hour, he said.

In terms of its propulsion system, the new model will adopt molten salt reactor and supercritical carbon dioxide technology to enhance thermoelectric conversion efficiency and improve reactor safety. Its design strictly adheres to internationally accepted nuclear safety concepts, standards and regulations, he said, adding, "In the future, this vessel type is expected to play an important role in seasonal transportation on Arctic routes, high-end polar adventure tourism, as well as supply and emergency support in the Arctic and Antarctic regions."

Yu Yun, a researcher at the institute, said that the opening of the Arctic shipping routes has brought about a revolutionary reduction in sea voyage distances.

"As an emerging maritime corridor linking Asia, Europe and North America, the Arctic routes can cut voyage distances by 30 to 40 percent compared with the traditional Suez Canal route, significantly lowering transportation and time costs. Taking the route from East Asia to Europe as an example, the voyage distance is shortened by approximately 7,000 kilometers, and sailing time is reduced by 10 to 15 days," Yu said.