A joint feasibility study using the Port of Rotterdam as a case study has found that existing port safety and risk-management frameworks could provide a credible starting point for assessing nuclear-powered commercial vessel calls at a major European port.
The desktop study, carried out by Lloyd’s Register, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Core Power and A P Moller – Maersk, sets out the questions ports, regulators and industry would need to answer to assess nuclear-powered vessels in a structured way. It also identifies further work required before routine operation could be contemplated, including regulatory alignment, emergency preparedness, security, liability and public engagement.
The report argues that maritime nuclear propulsion should be evaluated as part of the wider decarbonisation discussion, noting that some shipping segments may ultimately require propulsion solutions capable of supporting endurance, reliability and operational flexibility at scale – beyond what current alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and e-fuels can offer.
Among its key findings, the study concludes that IMO provisions relating to nuclear-powered ships were developed for an earlier era and require modernisation, and that European maritime decarbonisation discussions have so far given comparatively limited consideration to high-density, zero-emission propulsion systems.
Core Power CEO Mikal Bøe said public trust would be fundamental to any future deployment: “Together with Rotterdam, LR and Maersk we’ve identified a port safety framework and created a credible starting point for assessments by the IMO as it revises the Safety Code for Nuclear Ships and for the IAEA as it launches its flagship ATLAS program this summer.
“Greenhouse gas emissions from the existing shipping fleet have become unsustainable and have led to the slowest sailing times we’ve seen in decades. Now is the time to start the important work of evaluating nuclear shipping in a modern context.”
Port of Rotterdam harbour master René de Vries said the study was intended to better understand the regulatory, operational and safety considerations associated with nuclear-powered commercial shipping within a European port context.
Ole Graa Jakobsen, vice president, head of fleet technology at A.P. Moller – Maersk, stressed the study did not represent a decision to pursue nuclear propulsion: “This study does not represent a decision to pursue nuclear propulsion, but contributes to further understanding of what would be required for ports and authorities to assess such vessels in a structured and responsible way.”
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