Design progress of the ITER vacuum vessel and ports

Recent progress of the ITER vacuum vessel (VV) design is presented. As construction approaches, the VV design has been improved, simplified and developed in more detail. The VV support system has been improved, and the design of the VV shells and the blanket supports has been simplified. The VV design simplifications have been driven by manufacturing requirements and recommendations resulting from cooperation with industry. To simplify the manufacture/maintenance of the port structures, a single wall concept is used for some ports. Structural analyses have been performed to validate all design modifications.