UK-based firm Core Power on Wednesday (29 May) said there is growing recognition at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that the existing regulatory framework for nuclear-powered ships needs to be updated as part of the work to ensure that the IMO’s greenhouse gas reduction targets can be reached in a safe manner.
The 108th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), held from May 15 to 24, had on its agenda “Development of a Safety Regulatory Framework to Support the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships Using New Technologies and Alternative Fuels”.
The meeting reviewed work undertaken in a correspondence group between MSC 107 last year and MSC 108. MSC 108 established a working group to make further progress.
“The outcome of work done so far is a list of alternative fuels and new technologies that can help reduce GHG emissions from ships, along with an information-gathering exercise to describe each fuel and technology, and the hazards/risks associated with using them on ships. Nuclear power is on the list,” Core Power, specialising in scalable new nuclear for ocean transport and heavy industry, said on its website.
“The work done so far has also sought to identify regulatory barriers and gaps in existing regulations preventing mass deployment of the various fuel and technologies, though this exercise is not complete.”
MSC 108 also noted with appreciation MSC 108/INF.21 submitted by the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) containing a gap analysis of the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships. The document highlights that the Nuclear Code, adopted as Resolution A.491 in 1981, is specific to early pressurised water reactor (PWR) designs, and needs updating to reflect and accommodate positive technology developments.
“During discussions at MSC 108, several delegates agreed that a revision of the Nuclear Code is necessary to reflect improvements in nuclear reactor technologies for ships. Comments were also made about a need for synchronising work at the IMO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to create an appropriate international legal framework applicable to modern reactor designs on ships, and on floating nuclear power plants,” it added.
The MSC 108 working group document outlining instruments causing barriers and gaps in current IMO instruments also identifies that the Nuclear Code urgently needs a revision, and points to the gap analysis provided by experts in MSC 108/INF.21 by WNTI.
Moving forward, within the next year, Core Power said MSC is expected to outline tasks to assign to relevant sub-committees to either develop amendments to existing IMO instruments, or develop new instrument(s), to address gaps and barriers in safety regulations that may impede the safe use of an alternative fuel or new technology. Nuclear power will continue to be included in these MSC activities.
“A correspondence group will develop recommendations to address identified barriers and gaps in IMO instrument and how to address them. The correspondence group will submit a report to MSC 110 in 2025, with an interim verbal report to MSC 109 in December 2024,” it concluded.
“The work under this agenda item is considered urgent and important as it supports the IMO’s GHG Strategy.”
Photo credit: Core Power
Published: 3 June 2024
