China plans first nuclear-powered cargo ship

December 10, 2025

China is preparing to develop the world’s first nuclear-powered container vessel—an initiative that could transform global shipping as the industry accelerates its shift toward low-carbon and next-generation energy technologies.

At the Marintec China conference in Shanghai, Lin Qingshan, vice president of the state-run Jiangnan Shipyard, revealed that the company is designing a massive nuclear-powered container ship capable of carrying 25,000 TEU. According to Lin’s interview with the South China Morning Post, the project would represent the first practical use of nuclear propulsion for a large commercial cargo ship.

A new era of nuclear cargo ships

Lin noted that construction could begin within the next decade. Jiangnan Shipyard also intends to build specialized facilities dedicated to producing nuclear-powered commercial vessels, though the investment required for such infrastructure was not disclosed.

“We aim to lead the global market in this field,” Lin said. The vessel would rely on a thorium-based molten-salt nuclear reactor generating around 200 megawatts of power. Classified as a fourth-generation nuclear technology, the reactor is expected to support a lifespan of approximately 40 years.

Although nuclear propulsion is well-established in military submarines and aircraft carriers, no nuclear-powered container ship has ever reached commercial service.

• Potential Benefits—and Major Regulatory Challenges

• Advocates of nuclear-powered shipping highlight several potential advantages:

• Zero operational carbon emissions

• Long-distance voyages without refueling

• Lower lifetime fuel expenses

• Higher cruising speeds compared to conventional ships

However, Lin emphasized that regulatory uncertainties could slow progress. It remains unclear which authorities would oversee safety approvals for a nuclear-powered merchant vessel, raising questions about the timeline for large-scale adoption.

Project launches amid global pressure on China’s shipbuilding sector

The announcement comes at a challenging moment for China’s shipbuilding industry. From January to September 2025, Chinese shipyards accounted for 65% of global shipbuilding orders by deadweight tonnage, down from roughly 75% the previous year, according to Clarksons data referenced by the South China Morning Post.

New vessel orders have also plummeted. In the three months ending September, orders fell 61% to 10.5 million tonnes, compared with 26.9 million tonnes during the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to counter China’s shipbuilding dominance, proposing multibillion-dollar investments to revitalize American shipyards.

CSSC pushes toward high-value, high-tech shipbuilding

China State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC), Jiangnan’s parent company and the world’s largest shipbuilding conglomerate, aims to move further up the value chain. The company currently accounts for roughly one-third of all shipbuilding output worldwide and is increasingly focusing on high-tech vessels, including cruise liners, deep-sea drilling ships, and nuclear-powered designs.

At the Marintec conference, CSSC assistant president Ma Yunxiang said the corporation is prioritizing vessels that incorporate artificial intelligence and emerging energy technologies to enhance profitability.

Other Chinese companies are also expanding into clean-energy maritime solutions