The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced a pioneering initiative called ATLAS (Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea), designed to establish a global framework for safely deploying civil nuclear applications in the maritime industry. The initiative marks a major step forward in the industry’s push toward decarbonisation by utilising advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) to power commercial shipping and support offshore energy infrastructure. The IAEA ATLAS Initiative will be formally unveiled at a high-level ministerial event hosted by the US government in Washington in August.
The technology behind marine reactors is rapidly advancing, shifting the global conversation from whether nuclear shipping is possible to how soon it can be safely executed. The ATLAS project aims to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world deployment by tackling several critical areas:
- Framework Development: Supporting member states in creating unified international policies for maritime nuclear deployment.
- Safety Standard Updates: Reviewing and recommending essential revisions to existing IAEA Safety Standards and nuclear security guidance.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Creating a collaborative bridge connecting the nuclear industry, shipping companies, classification societies, and scientific innovators.
- Regulatory Harmonisation: Tackling complex legal and regulatory challenges, including port access, operational liability, and lifetime safeguards for vessels.
The initiative focuses on two distinct, high-impact pillars for clean marine energy:
- Commercial Shipping Propulsion – using SMRs to provide high-density, zero-emission power. Onboard reactors will fundamentally eliminate the need for frequent refuelling, maximise a vessel’s operational range, and allow merchant ships to travel faster.
- Offshore Energy Hubs – deploying floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs). These versatile, transportable installations will serve as clean energy stations capable of delivering electricity and heat to remote coastal communities or industrial offshore operations.
Because maritime nuclear integration faces strict regulatory and public perception challenges, the IAEA is coordinating closely with key international bodies. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which recently initiated updates to its own decades-old Nuclear Ship Code, will participate in the ATLAS rollout alongside specialised civil entities such as the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organisation (NEMO).
“Nuclear energy is fast emerging as a potential game-changer for both the shipping and offshore industries,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “It offers an unprecedented opportunity: not only could it enable ships to sail cleanly, further and faster without frequent refuelling, the high energy density of small modular reactors provides clean energy for a range of operations. This is the kind of solution we urgently need to achieve genuine and lasting transformation in shipping and beyond.”
Civilian nuclear-powered ships were first developed in the 1950s when the nuclear industry was growing, with the IAEA publishing its first safety report on nuclear ships in 1968. A limited number of nuclear-powered civilian ships have been deployed since that time. The world’s first FNPP, the Akademik Lomonosov, has been supplying power to Pevek in the Russian Arctic since 2020.
“The United States is honoured to host Director General Grossi, the IAEA, and its member states for the ATLAS Ministerial Launch Event,” said US Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright. “ATLAS is an incredible opportunity to shape the next frontier of nuclear energy, ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, and non-proliferation for all maritime applications.”
