Lloyd’s Register (LR) has published Navigating Nuclear Energy in Maritime, a new guidance document providing the first roadmap for the safe and responsible use of nuclear technology in commercial shipping and offshore industries.
The 62-page guidance, developed in partnership with Global Nuclear Security Partners (GNSP) and marine insurer NorthStandard, sets out the practical steps project teams must take. These include regulatory, technical, operational and financial requirements for integrating nuclear technology, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), into maritime assets.
With no international regulatory framework yet in place, the document discusses the roles of key bodies, including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), highlighting the importance of harmonising maritime and nuclear standards.
Topics covered include safety classification, environmental impact assessments, structural integrity, and the development of a robust nuclear safety case. Security measures are addressed including physical and cyber protection systems, as well as insider threat mitigation.
Operational and financial aspects are also explored, including personnel qualifications, emergency response planning, and quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle. The guidance also looks at insurance and reinsurance challenges, recommending a predictable liability framework to support commercial viability.
The guidance builds on its Fuel for Thought: Nuclear research programme. It brings together decades of classification, safety and compliance expertise with specialist nuclear insight to provide an evidence-based framework for project teams at every stage of development.
Mark Tipping, LR’s Global Power to X Director, said: “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.”
Nick Tomkinson, Senior Partner at Global Nuclear Security Partners, said the 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 for External Affairs at NorthStandard, noted: “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.”
The report concludes that, while nuclear energy presents a compelling opportunity for the maritime sector, considerable challenges exist before widespread implementation is possible. “Foremost, there is a lack of a unified international regulatory framework that effectively integrates the distinct maritime and nuclear industries.”
Beyond regulation, integrating advanced reactor designs into marine settings requires stakeholder collaboration, including comprehensive integrated safety cases that address the unique operational risks. “Ensuring robust nuclear security and implementing effective safeguards in the design phase are paramount.”
Further challenges include managing used fuel and waste, securing adequate insurance amidst regulatory uncertainty, implementing training requirements for specialised personnel, addressing public perception, and establishing the necessary support infrastructure, including supply chains and maintenance facilities.
“Successfully navigating these challenges requires early, collaborative engagement between stakeholders. Where prescriptive regulations are absent, a goal-based approach demonstrating equivalency will be necessary.”
