Floating Nuclear Power Plant SMART100: South Korea Receives Preliminary Approval
South Korean corporations Samsung Heavy Industries and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) have taken a significant step in the development of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs). Their conceptual platform project, equipped with two SMART100 small modular reactors, has received Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)—an important milestone on the path to international certification and commercialization.
SMART100 represents an evolution of the small modular reactor (SMR) concept: compact, potentially safer and more economical energy sources adapted for offshore deployment. In the new project, SMART100 is configured for operation on a floating platform, where the reactor and safety systems are integrated into a single protective structure. This approach allows the reactor to be tested on land before installation on the vessel, reducing construction time and lowering risks.
The preliminary approval from ABS confirms that the proposed concept complies with applicable rules and standards for safe marine and energy engineering—an important signal to the market, especially for potential investors and regulators. A vice president of Samsung Heavy Industries emphasized that the project can be commercialized and adapted for various types of small modular reactors in the future. atomic-energy.ru
If the concept receives final approval and moves into the industrial phase, a floating SMR-based nuclear power plant could become a universal solution for supplying energy to isolated regions, shipping routes, and even industrial operations in remote offshore zones. This is not just a new energy facility—it is an alternative to traditional power grids, combining nuclear safety with mobility and flexibility.
