As reported by the Chinese government-run, Global Times, an estimated 20 maritime platforms will be developed by CSIC. The project is in partnership with China General Nuclear, which signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CSIC to help build the platforms in January 2016. Construction of the first floating reactor is expected to start next year, with electricity generation to begin in 2020. A demonstration project is expected to be completed by 2018.
According to The New York Times, the United States previously employed floating nuclear power plants in the 1960s. One advantage of mobile marine plants is that they can leave the area in the case of a sever storm, but it is not clear how mobile the new Chinese plants will be. David Lochbaum, director of the Nuclear Safety Project for the Union of Concerned Scientists told the Times that, “The floating nuke accident scenario also carries with it the potential for molten parts of the reactor core burning through the bottom of the barge to reach the water below. The water is good for cooling, but not good for containment.”
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