China to build world’s first thorium-powered container vessel by 2035

China's Jiangnan Shipyard is charting a new course for the maritime industry with plans to construct the world's first nuclear-powered container vessel. The vice president of the Shanghai-based shipbuilder — Lin Qingshan — revealed that the company is currently designing a massive 25,000-container ship powered by advanced nuclear technology, with construction potentially beginning by 2035.

The proposed vessel will utilize a thorium-based molten salt reactor, a fourth-generation nuclear system boasting a 200-megawatt output and an operational lifespan of 40 years. While nuclear propulsion is standard in military submarines and aircraft carriers, applying it to commercial freight would be a historic first. The technology promises to revolutionize shipping by offering higher cruising speeds, extended range without refueling, and zero carbon emissions.

This high-tech pivot comes as Jiangnan’s parent company, China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), seeks to move up the industrial value chain. The push for advanced technologies — which also includes new deep-ocean drilling ships and cruise liners — arrives amid tightening market conditions. Recent data indicate that new orders for Chinese shipyards dropped by 61% in the third quarter of 2025

However, Lin acknowledged that the path forward is complicated. Regulatory frameworks for commercial nuclear shipping are currently undefined, and it remains unclear which government bodies would possess the authority to approve the deployment of such technology in a civilian context.