World first for China: nuclear-powered container ship!

Very significant.

Because most of the world’s freight is carried by container vessels and about 98% of those are driven by Diesel engines. 

If carbon emissions from shipping are to be reduced, nuclear is going to be critical. There’s been some return to use of modern sails. But nowhere near enough to crack the problem. By contrast, these small thorium reactors can be scaled up when their production is refined. 

More: not mentioned above, but presumably these small thorium reactors will be deployable on land as Small Modular Reactors. 

Good on China for this one!