Molten salt reactors provide a potential nuclear solution to decarbonising shipping, C-Job Naval Architects said after research by TU Delft university.

The C-Job-commissioned research carried out by Koen Houtkoop, a marine technology graduate at TU Delft, showed potential for an up to 98% reduction in maritime CO2 emissions and elimination of SOx, particulate matter and NOx air pollution.

Molten salt reactors using a thorium cycle could reduce high-level nuclear waste longevity to about 300 years from more than 10,000 years in conventional reaction, he said.