Lloyd’s Register (LR), AP Moller – Maersk (Maersk), the Port of Charleston on the US east coast and the Port of Felixstowe, the largest container port in the UK, on Wednesday (2 September) announced a partnership to establish a Pink Corridor project, to identify and address the operational, security and safeguarding requirements for a theoretical nuclear-powered containership trading between the two ports.

The project will focus on the security and safeguard considerations needed to inform future regulation and support the safe, secure and responsible adoption of nuclear power for trans-Atlantic commercial shipping

Centred on a conceptual nuclear-powered container ship, the Pink Corridor will examine the requirements for theoretical port access on the specified route. Key areas of focus will include ship security, safeguards, cyber resilience, emergency response, insurance regimes and alignment between maritime and nuclear regulatory expectations.

The work is expected to support broader maritime development under the US-UK Technology Prosperity Deal and its bilateral commitment to explore civil maritime nuclear applications, including the potential creation of a shipping corridor between the two nations.

The Pink Corridor aims to provide a structured basis for collaboration, helping stakeholders understand the practical requirements, gaps and future work needed before any potential nuclear maritime corridor could be considered.

Nick Gross, Global Containerships Segment Director, LR, said: “The Pink Corridor joint development programme is an important step for the application of nuclear technology in merchant shipping.

“By taking a practical, collaborative approach, the project will examine the security and safeguards that would need to be addressed for safe operations. The partnership brings together industry-leading players across shipping, ports and classification, reflecting the growing interest in nuclear technology as a route to more sustainable maritime operations.”

Adam Ramsey, Commercial Director, Port of Felixstowe, said: “As the UK’s largest and busiest container port, the Port of Felixstowe is well-positioned to support the Pink Corridor and contribute practical insight to this important early-stage work.

“We are committed to improving the efficiency and resilience of our own operations, while supporting the wider industry as it explores sustainable, long-term propulsion options for global trade.”

Tom Boyle, SC Ports’ Director of Vessel Operations and Carrier Sales, said: “As a major U.S. East Coast port, Charleston is always looking for innovative, cost effective and sustainable ways to move freight. The conceptual Pink Corridor project allows for the study of the possibility of a nuclear-powered maritime corridor.” 

The collaboration builds on LR and CORE POWER’s 2024 regulatory assessment study, which was formalised with Maersk through a joint development project exploring the safety, operational and regulatory requirements for applying advanced nuclear power to container shipping.

The outcomes of the initial phase of the Pink Corridor project will inform the scope of a potential second phase, including areas requiring further study across engineering, regulatory, legislative, security and safeguards frameworks for nuclear merchant ships.

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 3 September, 2026

Regulatory uncertainty is increasing pressure on shipowners to make investment decisions that remain viable across multiple future scenarios, said classification society DNV on Thursday (27 August). 

According to DNV’s 10th Maritime Forecast to 2050, stronger global regulatory signals could accelerate the uptake of energy-efficiency measures, enabling the global fleet to consume up to 25% less energy by 2050 compared to a scenario where regulation is driven by regions.

The report examines four regulatory scenarios, ranging from adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF) in its current form to its outright rejection, which could lead to a period of prolonged regulatory gridlock, and explores the implications of these outcomes for fuel demand, energy efficiency uptake, and long-term fleet fuel and technology strategies.

Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, CEO Maritime, DNV, said: “Ships ordered today will operate well beyond 2050, but many of the factors shaping their future performance remain uncertain. Regulatory requirements are advancing faster than the fuel, infrastructure, and technological systems needed to support them, making long-term investment decisions increasingly complex. The industry therefore needs greater clarity and alignment among all stakeholders to provide the confidence required for long-term investment. In the meantime, shipowners need strategies that deliver benefits today while remaining resilient across a range of regulatory and market outcomes.”

Energy efficiency is one of the most immediate and practical levers available to shipowners, delivering value across regulatory outcomes whether implemented at the newbuild stage or as a retrofit. A case study of a hydrodynamic measures retrofit on a 5,000 TEU container vessel showed potential annual fuel savings of 16%, with a payback time of around one to four years depending on future fuel prices. Retrofits can add similar value across many ship types and with sufficient planning can typically be completed during a standard class-renewal dry docking.

The development of the marine low-GHG fuel market remains a key challenge. While significant progress has been made in expanding alternative-fuel capabilities of vessels, scaling fuel production depends on confidence that demand will materialize. DNV projects shipping demand for low-GHG fuels to range from 4 to 22 Mtoe by 2030 and 33 to 185 Mtoe by 2050, depending on regulatory outcomes, with uptake also shaped by future uptake of shore power, plug-in hybridization, nuclear power, and onboard carbon capture systems.

Current project pipelines indicate a maximum global supply of 270 Mtoe by 2030, although actual volumes are likely to be lower due to project delays and other uncertainties, and shipping will need to compete with other industries for its share. However, the cost of reducing emissions varies significantly between fuel pathways, with abatement costs ranging from about 180 to 1,290 USD per tonne of CO₂ avoided, highlighting the importance of regulation and market incentives in enabling low-GHG fuel markets to develop.

Øyvind Sekkesæter, lead author of Maritime Forecast to 2050, said: “Scenarios explored in this year’s report show how different regulatory futures can lead to very different outcomes in energy efficiency uptake, fuel demand, and consequently, GHG emissions. By testing fuel and technology choices across multiple scenarios, shipowners can identify strategies that create value today while preserving flexibility as regulation, fuel availability, prices, and technologies evolve. Strategies that each owner chooses will also be dependent on their fleet type and operating context.”

Key findings from the report: 

• Several regulatory futures remain possible as the IMO continues negotiations on the Net-Zero Framework, with these outcomes shaping investment decisions, low-GHG fuel uptake, and energy-efficiency deployment across the global fleet.
• With global regulatory incentives in place, the world-fleet could consume 25% less energy by 2050 than under a scenario limited to regional regulations.
• Energy efficiency can pay off regardless of regulatory outcome – 5,000 TEU container ship case study shows 16% annual fuel savings from hydrodynamic measures retrofit.
• Shipping demand for low-GHG fuels could range from 4 to 22 Mtoe by 2030, and 33 to 185 Mtoe by 2050, depending on regulatory outcomes and the availability of these fuels in a competitive global market.
• Current project pipelines indicate that a maximum of 270 Mtoe of supply could be available by 2030, though actual volumes are likely to be lower due to project delays and other uncertainties, and shipping will need to compete with other industries for its share.
• Testing fuel and technology strategies across different scenarios can help shipowners identify robust choices for an uncertain transition. Testing, piloting, and verifying technologies can provide the trusted performance data needed to make investment decisions with greater confidence.

Note: DNV’s 10th Maritime Forecast to 2050 can be found here. 

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 28 August, 2026

UK-based firm Core Power on Wednesday (19 August) said it has signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA), establishing a framework for a site-specific maritime nuclear readiness study at the Port of Corpus Christi. 

The study will examine how a major US energy and trade gateway could prepare for two additional distinct future roles: as a potential location for a floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) supplying firm power for port and regional demand, and as a gateway for future calls by nuclear-powered commercial ships.

For the Port, the work is intended to provide a practical evidence base for considering how future ship-based power and shipping technologies could support regional growth, energy resilience and long-term competitiveness. 

For Core Power, the study will build out the practical requirements of its two product pathways in a real port operating environment. FNPPs require suitable sites, grid connections, customers, regulatory and environmental pathways, operating arrangements and long-term service support. Nuclear-powered commercial ships require safe and predictable pathways for transit, berthing and routine port operations. 

“The Port of Corpus Christi provides an opportunity to assess both pathways separately while understanding the shared infrastructure, safety, regulatory and commercial questions around them,” the company said. 

Separately, PCCA Commissioners have agreed to execute a Memorandum of Cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration to examine the technical, regulatory and operational requirements for U.S. seaports to support the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants and provide safe harbour for civil nuclear-powered vessels. 

The agreement recognises PCCA’s work with Core Power to assess the feasibility of both pathways. 

“Taken together, these separate but complementary agreements represent an important step toward translating maritime nuclear technology into practical readiness requirements for US ports,” Core Power said. 

Jeff Pollack, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, said: “Port Corpus Christi, as the preeminent energy gateway in North America, is committed to remaining a leader in the global energy marketplace, even as that marketplace expands and evolves. 

“This collaboration will help us understand what would be required technically, environmentally, operationally and commercially for floating nuclear power plants and future calls by nuclear-powered commercial ships to be considered in the real-world context of the Port. It is about gathering evidence and keeping our region competitive for future investment, industry, and high-value jobs.”

Related: Port of Corpus Christi ink agreement to explore nuclear maritime technologies

Photo credit: Core Power
Published: 21 August, 2026