Nuclear-Powered Cargo Ships Face Safety, Regulation and Security Hurdles

The shipping sector’s push for zero-carbon operations has turned to nuclear power as batteries, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen each present practical limits. Nuclear reactors would eliminate onboard fuel storage, lower operating costs and enable faster voyages, spurring projects from the US Maritime Administration, Core Power and China’s Jiangnan Shipyard. However, a reactor-equipped cargo ship becomes a floating nuclear facility that could be seized, grounded or struck, raising severe safety and security concerns.

Existing maritime and nuclear regulations are fragmented, prompting the IAEA’s ATLAS initiative and the IMO’s revision of its 1981 safety code, both targeting a cohesive regulatory regime by 2030. Past attempts such as the NS Savannah and Japan’s Mutsu failed largely because of complex permitting and public opposition, underscoring the need for clear, internationally harmonised rules before commercial nuclear shipping can become viable.