Potential use of nuclear power for shipping

The European Union, with the adoption of the European Green Deal, has signalled its engagement towards becoming a carbon free economy. In this context, EMSA is supporting maritime stakeholders by providing technologically neutral studies on potential alternative fuels and power solutions for shipping. This report is the last one of a series of studies produced in 2022, 2023 and 2024 covering the Potential use of Biofuels, Potential of Ammonia as fuel and Potential of Hydrogen as fuel, Synthetic fuels, and Potential of Wind-Assisted propulsion for shipping.

Until now nuclear power has been used for ships mainly for military purposes and for the propulsion of icebreakers in the Arctic. However, at European level, nuclear energy has been identified as a sustainable source of energy able to assist in meeting the zero-emission goal of the EU and therefore is eligible for green sustainable financing.

Therefore, nuclear power for shipping seems a pathway that could be explored to contribute to the decarbonization of the sector, but it presents a series of challenges that will need first to be addressed in relation to production, safety, security, training and liability and also insurance regime.