Chairman and CEO of classification society ABS, Christopher J. Wiernicki, recently shared his views on nuclear technology in shipping, emphasising that nuclear is a must in order to achieve net zero. 

“New nuclear technology is a global decarbonisation solution and a commercial shipping disruptor. There is no net zero by 2050 without nuclear,” he said when speaking at the Core Power New Nuclear for Maritime Houston Summit.

“New nuclear is a transformational technology. It disrupts the commercial model, the economics of shipping, as well as the operation of vessels and of course their design,” said Wiernicki. 

“Not only does it offer zero carbon operations but higher power with faster transit speeds, increased cargo storage due to the elimination of fuel storage and it unlocks the potential for reverse cold ironing where the vessel powers the port. Finally, critically, it eliminates the need to bunker fuel potentially over the entire lifespan of the asset.”

Contrary to conventional wisdom about the high cost of nuclear technology, Wiernicki believes new nuclear can be highly competitive.

“The economics are compelling over the life of a vessel,” he said. “When you account for fuel differentials, the cost of compliance and residual value, it costs roughly the same as fossil options, only with zero carbon operations. And it gets much more attractive when compared to the high cost of green fuels.”

However, he highlighted that significant challenges remain beyond technological development.

“While the potential is undoubtedly significant, we will need a new public/private partnership and a new commercial model. It will require insurance to move from its legacy model, and we will need to close the regulatory gaps, develop global licensing standards and invest in crew training,” he said. 

“The ultimate boundary condition for this technology will be safety, and we need to ensure we engage and educate the public about the advanced safety performance of these new reactors.”

Photo credit: ABS
Published: 14 February, 2025

Norway-based shipbuilder VARD on Friday (3 January) said it has partnered with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Ålesund, Norway and other key stakeholders in the NuProShip I project, which explores nuclear propulsion for the maritime sector. 

NuProShip, short for “Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping,” will evaluate fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications.

In this project, an extensive assessment of 99 companies developing advanced reactor technologies led to the selection of three promising reactor types:

• Kairos Power (USA): Fluoride high-temperature molten salt reactor using Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles, designed for robust and efficient operation.
• Ultrasafe (USA): Helium-cooled gas reactor, also employing TRISO fuel particles, known for their resilience and safety in extreme conditions.
• Blykalla (Sweden): Lead-cooled reactor concept utilizing uranium oxide as fuel, offering high efficiency with advanced cooling mechanisms.

VARD said TRISO fuel particles, noted for their durability and containment properties, play a crucial role in two of these reactor types. 

“TRISO technology in fact, is renowned as one of the most resilient nuclear fuel types available today,” it added.

Alongside VARD, the NuProShip project is supported by other partners, including DNV, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, ship owner Knutsen Tankers, and the Spanish nuclear consultancy IDOM. 

VARD’s primary contribution involves integrating these reactor systems into various vessel types, assessing the technical challenges to enable the future commercial use of nuclear-powered ships.

Photo credit: VARD
Published: 10 January, 2025

UK-based firm Core Power on Thursday (15 August) said Danish-shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has agreed to join a study by Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Core Power on the potential for nuclear-propelled feeder container shipping in Europe.

The three parties will conduct research on the regulatory feasibility and frameworks that would need to be established for a nuclear containership using a fourth-generation reactor noted for its high inherent safety to undertake cargo operations at a port in Europe.

The joint study will investigate the requirements for updated safety rules along with the improved operational and regulatory understanding that is needed for the application of nuclear power in container shipping. 

In addition, this study will provide insight for members of the maritime value chain who are exploring the business case for nuclear power to help shape their fleet strategy towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The study will bring together the expertise of LR as a trusted adviser to the maritime industry, Core Power’s experience of developing advanced nuclear energy technology for maritime applications, a port authority and Maersk’s extensive experience in shipping and logistics.

Ole Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology, A.P. Moller – Maersk, said: “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 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.”

Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, said: “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 decarbonising 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, said: “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.”

Photo credit: Maersk
Published: 19 August, 2024