Maersk engages in research on nuclear propulsion in navigation

The largest shipping company in the world, Maersk, cooperates with the British Lloyd’s Register and CORE POWER to assess the possibility of using nuclear propulsion on new generation container ships. The project aims to transform the maritime industry towards decarbonisation and carbon-free shipping.

Maersk explores opportunities for cooperation with Lloyd’s Register and CORE POWER

Maersk, a global leader in the shipping industry, announced his commitment to research into the use of nuclear propulsion in container ships. Cooperation with British company The Lloyd’s Register classification and CORE POWER, specialising in the development of nuclear propulsion technologies, particularly in the context of marine applications, aims to explore regulatory and safety aspects that will be crucial for the implementation of this new technology.

The project will examine new safety rules as well as operational and regulatory requirements for the use of nuclear energy in container shipping. Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, stressed that these studies could open doors for emission-free operations and improve the efficiency of the entire supply chain.

Despite many challenges such as waste management and differences in international regulations, Ole Graa Jakobsen, head of Maersk fleet technology, sees in nuclear energy a potential path to decarbonization of the logistics industry in the coming decades. Cooperation with Lloyd’s Register and CORE POWER can accelerate the development of this technology, which could revolutionise global shipping.

New initiatives in shipping: CORE POWER and Jiangnan shipyard present nuclear-powered solutions

Against the background of growing interest in nuclear propulsion, other shipping lines such as Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Hapag-Lloyd also explore the capabilities of this technology. The heads of these companies stress that nuclear energy can play a key role in decarbonising shipping in the coming years.

Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER, believes that nuclear-powered container ships can significantly increase maritime transport efficiency by offering faster cruises and zero emissions. Projects such as the salt-grade reactor, developed by CORE POWER, can revolutionise the marine industry, shortening transit time and increasing number voyages.

In China, the State shipyard Jiangnan Shipyard presented a megamax container ship design with a capacity of 24,000 TEU, which uses the technology of a molten salt reactor (Molten Salt Reactor – MSR). This project highlights the global interest in nuclear propulsion in shipping, highlighting the potential of this technology in the future.

The MSR uses liquid fuel which is a mixture of sodium fluoride, zirconium and uranium which flows through channels in the graphite core, generating heat transferred to the secondary cooling circuit. The reactor works at low pressure and temperature above 700°C, with a reference power of 1000 MW. The IAS system has been highly assessed for sustainable development, safety and the management of actinists (radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium), although economically it was considered neutral. The planned construction of the MSR reactors may begin around 2025.

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz