Page 108 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023

GREEN SHIPPING

Mr Mikal Bøe discusses the recent developments for nuclear power on the regulatory
front and the main challenges and opportunities for the wider adoption of atomic pro-
pulsion in the shipping sector.

BUILDING BRIDGES

BETWEEN NUCLEAR

& MARITIME REGULATORS

Deployment of marinised nuclear power requires a concerted effort
by both nuclear and maritime regulators to establish an excep-
tional standard for nuclear-powered ships that will be acceptable
to stakeholders in maritime communities and governments.
The current chapter of IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea Convention
(SOLAS) that concerns nuclear commercial vessels was passed
in 1981 and specifies standards for ships using conventional naval
style Pressurised Water Reactors feeding a steam cycle which
directly drives the propellors.
Advanced nuclear-powered ships would be nuclear-electric where
the reactors are used to drive turbines that generate electricity
to power the vessel. For SOLAS to be updated, an alliance of key
nations such as the US, UK and others would need to develop
revised terms and propose a modernisation of the rules to reflect
42 years of advancement in both nuclear and maritime safety stan-
dards.
Regulatory development will also have to be supported on the
nuclear side for the next generation of nuclear reactors to be fully
marinised. The Molten Chloride Fast Reactor and the Heat Pipe
reactors both have essential design characteristics that enable
walk away safety allowing for an appropriate reduction in the Emer-
gency Planning Zone (EPZ) size.
First step made by UK Government
In November of 2022, the UK Government passed the ‘Merchant
Shipping (Nuclear Ships) Regulation of 2022 incorporating Res-
by Mikal Bøe, olution A.491(XII) of SOLAS into law. The law contains an ambula-
CEO, tory reference meaning any change made at IMO is automatically
Core Power
adopted into UK Law.

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