Brisbane group leads design of nuclear powered ships

Gold Coast based ship design group Seatransport and a Brisbane based technology company are developing nuclear solutions for the propulsion of strategic and disaster response vessels in remote areas.

The technology company has not been named, preferring to remain in stealth mode, however they are collaborating to utilise Using Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) technology of between two to five MMRs of 1MWe capacity each.

They envisage a 73 metre amphibious vessel (pictured), designed for emergency response and disaster relief duties in remote areas, including islands of the Pacific Ocean.

This would enable operation of the vessel for 8-10 years without refueling with the vessel having the capability to feed power into a shore grid of the affected areas and whenever docked at port.

The vessels are similar to military designs, and are versatile enough to need only a modest concrete ramp to be built to load and unload, allowing disaster relief.

Alternatively a small cyclone proof port could be utilised.

Working with London Based Classification Society, Lloyds Register, which has experience with nuclear classification for military vessels, a development programme is underway to ensure quality, protocols and safety aspects are established and followed.

The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) based in Vienna, had their last November conference focussing on floating nuclear power plants.

Russia is already well advanced in this area, according to the companies, and many nations in Africa and Indonesia are seriously considering these plug and play power options.

Seatransport presented the ship concept at a nuclear power seminar held in Mount Isa, Queensland in August.

The seminar also highlighted the advantages of MMRs to remote communities and mining, as a key ingredient in regional prosperity, job security and successful training programmes.

Picture: Seatransport