LR issues nuclear guidance for maritime applications
A new publication from Lloyd’s Register (LR) provides what is claimed to be the first guidance for the application of nuclear technology in the commercial and offshore sectors. The publication coincides with announcements on various projects relating to nuclear power for vessels including container ships, offshore support vessels, and gas carriers.
The document, produced in collaboration with London-based Global Nuclear Security Partners (GNSP) and the NorthStandard P&I Club, details the practical steps that project teams must take to integrate nuclear power systems such as ‘small modular reactors’. The guidance covers regulatory, technical, operational, and financial issues.
The LR document addresses the role of organisations such as the International Maritime Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency. A priority has been the harmonising of maritime and nuclear standards.
Issues addressed in the publication include safety classification, environmental impact assessments, personnel qualifications, emergency response planning, and quality assurance through the lifetime of a project. Insurance and reinsurance issues are also addressed.
The classification society’s Mark Tipping, Global Power to X director, commented: “Nuclear energy has the potential to transform maritime, providing a scalable and zero-carbon energy source that can accelerate the industry’s energy transition. However, its adoption requires clarity, collaboration and trust across regulators, operators, insurers and wider society. This guidance offers a comprehensive starting point for stakeholders to navigate the risks and opportunities ahead.”
GNSP senior partner, Nick Tomkinson, said: “Maritime nuclear will only succeed when safety, security and safeguards are considered together from the start. This guidance document helps first movers align maritime and nuclear frameworks, apply goal-based approaches where prescriptive rules are absent, and build the confidence required by regulators, insurers and the public.”
Helen Barden, director of External Affairs at NorthStandard, explained: “We collaborated with Lloyd’s Register to explore the insurance and reinsurance considerations for nuclear energy – particularly the interlink between classification and insurance, current P&I limitations around pooling nuclear risks. and the importance of liability frameworks. We welcome the growing recognition that nuclear could play a meaningful role in the decarbonisation of shipping.”
