According to a new paper by DNV, shifting environmental requirements are reigniting interest in nuclear propulsion as a long-term solution for maritime decarbonization. This renewed attention comes despite the absence of any civilian commercial nuclear-powered vessel commissions in more than four decades.
DNV’s latest report, “Maritime nuclear propulsion: Technologies, commercial viability, and regulatory challenges for nuclear-powered vessels,” highlights how maritime nuclear technologies differ from land-based reactors, and emphasizes the need to address technological, regulatory, and commercial factors in the effort to understand the potential role of nuclear propulsion.
The paper addresses the main elements of the future maritime fuel cycle – including fuel management, waste handling, vessel construction and operation, and oversight of nuclear supply chains – and presents the reactor technologies most likely to be adopted by shipowners. Advances in automation, digitalization, and modular design are identified as critical enablers of safety, security, and non-proliferation of future nuclear fuels and reactors, thereby paving the way for public acceptance.
Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, Maritime CEO at DNV, said: “Nuclear energy has the potential to play a role in the maritime energy transition. However, much work still needs to be done to overcome technical, regulatory, and societal challenges, including public perception. This will require coordinated global action, technological innovation, and closely aligned regulatory frameworks.” (....)