Allseas has released a study by Roland Berger assessing the potential impact of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) on the global maritime sector.
According to the consultancy, the deployment of SMR technology could reshape energy use across commercial fleets and port logistics, supporting autonomous power generation and reducing emissions. The reactor developed by Allseas is based on high-temperature gas-cooled technology (HTGR) with an electrical output of 25 MWe and a thermal output of 70 MWt.
The company is developing the design together with NRG PALLAS and TU Delft and expects the first units to enter operation in 2030. Roland Berger estimates a potential market of up to 700 SMRs in the maritime sector, including commercial vessels, offshore platforms, port infrastructure and floating industrial assets.
According to the study, such reactors could supply vessels with stable power independent of range or weather conditions and provide ports with autonomous capacity for industrial use and for producing hydrogen or synthetic fuels.
The study indicates that by 2050 the use of SMRs could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 55 million tonnes per year, equal to around 5% of current global maritime emissions.
The reactor’s heat output of up to 650°C allows for applications on high-demand vessels such as cable-laying ships, heavy transport vessels and drilling units, as well as energy-intensive port zones. The economic contribution from developing and producing SMRs in the Netherlands is estimated at up to €130 billion by 2050, with a significant share linked to the maritime segment and the creation of an export product for the global fleet.
Allseas states that the technology supports a new energy model for both vessels and port logistics as demand for power increases and decarbonisation requirements grow.
Allseas is an international engineering group founded in 1985. It operates as a private company and is known for developing and operating large offshore construction and pipeline-laying vessels. The company provides engineering, project management and offshore installation services in the global energy and marine infrastructure sectors.
Roland Berger is an international management consulting firm established in 1967 in Germany. It operates as a partnership and provides advisory services in strategy, restructuring, operations and performance improvement for private and public sector clients across multiple industries.
