World News
Study Finds Nuclear-Powered LNG Carrier's Higher Price Tag Could Be Offset by Fuel Savings
A nuclear-powered LNG carrier could cost around 2.5 times more to build than a conventional LNG carrier, but lower fuel costs could offset the higher upfront investment over its operating life, a study has found.
Presented at Gastech 2026, the study by ABS, Blossom Energy and a global shipping company examined a 174,000 m3 LNG carrier fitted with a 20-25 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor being developed by Blossom Energy, ABS said in a press release on Tuesday.
The team compared the design with a conventional LNG-fuelled newbuild, assessing vessel arrangement, propulsion and operating conditions under different potential regulatory penalty scenarios.
The study also considered treating the reactor as a long-term energy asset that could be installed on a second vessel after the first reaches the end of its service life.
Its potential reuse was factored into the vessel’s residual value.
“This study provides a quantitative basis for discussing nuclear propulsion in commercial shipping,” Shimpei Hamamoto, CEO of Blossom Energy, said.
“Nuclear energy has the potential to fundamentally change the economics of commercial shipping, from vessel design to long-term operating costs,” Patrick Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of ABS, said.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 854.00 | 11.50 | 1278.50 | 11.00 |
| Rotterdam | 681.00 | 5.50 | 1400.00 | 10.00 |
| Houston | 725.50 | 15.00 | 1364.50 | 23.50 |
| Fujairah | 944.50 | 19.00 | 1675.50 | 9.00 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 860.50 | 15.50 | 1522.00 | 1.50 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 801.00 | 13.00 | 1429.50 | 4.00 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 922.00 | 13.00 | 1596.50 | 2.50 |
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