Maritime Industry Pioneers Joint Study on Regulatory Frameworks for Nuclear-Powered Container Ships
In a groundbreaking move for the maritime industry, Lloyd’s Register (LR) and CORE POWER have joined forces to launch a comprehensive regulatory assessment study, aimed at exploring the feasibility of nuclear-powered container ships. This study, which has also attracted the collaboration of industry giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk), seeks to establish the necessary regulatory frameworks for the deployment of container ships powered by advanced fourth-generation nuclear reactors.
The initiative marks a significant step forward in the maritime sector’s ongoing efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) setting ambitious emission reduction targets, the industry is under increasing pressure to explore alternative, low-emission energy sources. Nuclear power, with its promise of emissions-free operations and enhanced supply chain efficiency, could potentially play a crucial role in this transition.
The joint study will delve into the intricacies of updating existing safety rules, as well as the operational and regulatory challenges posed by the introduction of nuclear power in container shipping. The insights gleaned from this research will be invaluable to maritime stakeholders who are evaluating the business case for nuclear-powered fleets as part of their long-term decarbonization strategies.
The collaboration brings together LR’s extensive expertise as a trusted maritime adviser, CORE POWER’s innovative approach to developing nuclear energy technologies for maritime applications, and Maersk’s deep experience in global shipping and logistics. A leading European Port Authority is also expected to contribute, ensuring that the study considers the practicalities of operating nuclear-powered vessels in port environments.
Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative: “The initiation of this joint study marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards unlocking the potential of nuclear power in the maritime industry, paving the way for emissions-free operations, more agile service networks, and greater efficiency through the supply chain. A multi-fuel pathway to decarbonizing the maritime industry is crucial to ensuring we as an industry meet the IMO’s emission reduction targets, and nuclear propulsion shows signs of playing a key role in this energy transition.”
Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER, highlighted the importance of establishing a robust standards framework: “There’s no net-zero without nuclear. A critical key to unlocking the vast potential for nuclear energy to transform how the maritime sector is powered is the standards framework for commercial insurability of floating nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered ships that would operate in nearshore environments, ports, and waterways. We’re immensely pleased to be working with some of Europe’s most respected industry participants to set out the conditions for how this can be achieved.”
Ole Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology at A.P. Moller – Maersk, acknowledged the challenges and potential of nuclear power: “Since Maersk launched its energy transition strategy in 2018, we have continuously explored diverse low-emission energy options for our assets. Nuclear power holds a number of challenges related to, for example, safety, waste management, and regulatory acceptance across regions, and so far, the downsides have clearly outweighed the benefits of the technology. If these challenges can be addressed by the development of the new so-called fourth-generation reactor designs, nuclear power could potentially mature into another possible decarbonization pathway for the logistics industry 10 to 15 years in the future. Therefore, we continue to monitor and assess this technology, along with all other low-emission solutions.”
As the maritime industry grapples with the pressing need to reduce its environmental impact, this study represents a pivotal moment in the exploration of nuclear power as a viable, sustainable energy solution. The findings are expected to shape the future of maritime regulations and could pave the way for a new era of emissions-free shipping.
