BULLS OF THE SEA | SPECIAL REPORT


Above: The new Russian nuclear icebreaker project 22220 in the Barents Sea. Murmansk region, Kola Bay


On 18 September, during President Donald Trump’s state


visit to the UK, he and UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer signed a Technology Prosperity Deal, which included that the countries would explore “opportunities for novel applications of advanced nuclear energy, including civil maritime applications, and playing a leading role informing the establishment of international standards, potential establishment of a maritime shipping corridor between the participants’ territories.” Fuel For Thought heard strong indications from panellists close to the process that the area had already been explored and a more concrete deal to establish the corridor was imminent. With a market soon to be created between two pioneering ports, it is hoped the first vessels to use it could be launched in 2030-2032. While the focus was on international legislation, it was


unusual to see nuclear regulation taking a back seat while a myriad of new installations and licensees come into view. In principle, a national nuclear regulator would provide


nuclear safety and operational approvals in collaboration with marine authorities, at least in their jurisdiction of national waters. LR expects to deal with the reactor’s appropriate inclusion on the vessel and the vessel’s overall classification. Then, between treaty states recognising one another’s competence it would be full steam ahead. In this regard, the goals of regulators are almost as ambitious as the industry. Paul Fyfe of the UK’s Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said, “We want to be able to think of a nuclear power plant the way we think about a gas turbine [installed] in a place: Massively regulated, but a commodity.” Fyfe continued, noting that ONR is the only regulator that is wholly outcome focused: “Industry needs to be more provocative and challenge the regulator sometimes,” he said, calling on industry to “tell ONR what it needs and when,” and hinting that industry might be surprised how quickly things could move. “The question is: how fast do you want to go?” Fyfe


declared, concluding: “Everything is happening, but it may not be at the pace you wish. The more you can tell me as the regulator what you require and what timescale, the better I can plan. We haven’t been on the critical path to halting nuclear projects on land and we don’t want to do that at sea.”


This seemed to echo Baroness Charlotte Vere of Core


Power, who called on players in the maritime scene to “start taking this nuclear corridor concept seriously.” They should, “Pull together a group of experts from any two countries and sketch it out: If we had a vessel today what would stop us from doing it? Then turn to government and ask for what you need.”


Maritime reactor design Many of the small reactors under consideration for maritime use are PWRs, which come with a lot of operational experience, including at sea. Some are rather more exotic. For example, Core Power is working with Terrestrial on a molten chloride fast reactor and Allseas, which produces the kind of floating platforms and large vessels that install infrastructure at sea, is designing its own high temperature gas-cooled reactor. Aiming to get these designed, approved, supplied with


components and fuel, constructed and afloat in 5-7 years is bullish to say the least. However, nobody in the room spoke up to doubt it. The firm consensus from the industry was ‘we are going to do it’. Similarly, touch points with the workforce remain vague. As yet, it is not known how nuclear propulsion would affect staffing in terms of numbers, roles or qualifications. While technologists and lawyers hope for the most plug-and- play use of nuclear possible, it is worth keeping in mind that there are about 1.9 million people in the maritime sector worldwide. About one third of seafarers are Officers who bear the main responsibility for operation and safety aboard a ship, and about the same number are Ratings under their command with lesser responsibility. Maritime nuclear also poses questions about public


perception, as it brings in a lot of new stakeholders in densely inhabited areas who have little to no experience of nuclear energy. Mike Salthouse of marine insurer North Standard said,


“I can’t overstate how important it will be to normalise this technology. To do that we need to work collectively. Those who are very excited about this tech and its deployment are able to identify all the key touchpoints and speak with one voice in a convincing way.”


www.neimagazine.com | October 2025 | 27


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