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Feature
Nuclear energy at sea:
A new frontier for maritime
decarbonisation
& Greece’s role
The global shipping industry is undergoing a profound
transformation as it confronts growing pressure
to decarbonise. With international regulations
tightening, the need for new propulsion technologies
has never been more urgent. Among the various
alternatives under exploration, such as hydrogen,
ammonia, and synthetic fuels, nuclear energy is emerging
as a compelling, albeit underexplored, option
for the future of commercial shipping.
Though its deployment in civilian mari- commercial vessel powered by a nuclear
time applications is still in the early stages, reactor, the NS “Savannah”, launched in
nuclear propulsion offers unique advan- 1959 under the US “Atoms for Peace”
tages: long operating autonomy, zero programme, and even docked in Piraeus
greenhouse gas emissions, high power during a public awareness tour². While
density, and drastically reduced fuel logis- early commercial efforts stalled due to
tics. These attributes make it particularly high costs, Cold War politics, and insuf-
well-suited to the demands of long-haul ficient regulatory structures, technolog-
shipping, where the current pace of inno- ical advancements and today’s climate
vation in alternative fuels is unlikely to imperatives are reigniting interest in
keep up with regulatory mandates. nuclear propulsion.
This article outlines the current state of Today, two main categories of maritime
nuclear technology in maritime transport, nuclear applications are actively being
reviews key economic and regulatory pursued. The first involves floating
Opinions expressed by considerations, and highlights the nuclear power plants (FNPPs), which
Dr George Laskaris, potential role of Greece, which is home can generate electricity and heat for
Nuclear Physicist and President to one of the world’s most powerful ports, industrial facilities, and offshore
of Deon Policy Institute
merchant fleets, in leading this techno- installations. The second concerns
logical transition. nuclear-powered commercial ships
designed for deep-sea transport. New
The technological opportunity reactor technologies, such as Molten
Nuclear energy is not a novel idea for the Salt Reactors (MSRs), Lead-cooled
shipping industry. Currently, more than Fast Reactors (LFRs), and microreactors
160 vessels are operating using over 200 like the Westinghouse eVinci, are being
naval reactors, mainly in military sub- developed specifically for flexible and
marines and aircraft carriers¹. The first modular maritime deployment³.
160 NX
