UK-based Lloyd’s Register (LR), Denmark’s AP Moller – Maersk (Maersk), the UK Port of Felixstowe and South Carolina’s Port of Charleston are joining forces to examine the operational, security and regulatory requirements for a theoretical nuclear-powered boxship trading between the two gateways.
In contrast to the proliferation of so-called green corridor, this project has unveiled plans for a pink corridor between the UK and US designed to explore what would be required to operate nuclear-powered containerships across the Atlantic.
The project is currently purely conceptual. Rather than physical shipbuilding, the first phase focuses on determining how a merchant ship using advanced fourth-generation nuclear reactors could safely operate within existing global framework limits.
The first phase “will examine the requirements for theoretical port access on the specified route,” according to a written statement about the long-term study. “Key areas of focus will include ship security, safeguards, cyber resilience, emergency response, insurance regimes and alignment between maritime and nuclear regulatory expectations.”
According to project coordinators, the primary barriers to commercial nuclear shipping are no longer engineering or technical capabilities, but legal and bureaucratic alignment. The Pink Corridor project aims to map out solutions for the following:
- Regulatory alignment: bridging the gap between maritime safety frameworks and civilian nuclear safety laws across different jurisdictions.
- Port access & security: assessing the requirements for physical and cyber security, safeguards, and port emergency response plans.
- Liability & insurance: outlining new insurance frameworks so commercial nuclear ships can be covered at viable commercial market rates.
The project directly supports the broader US-UK Technology Prosperity Deal, which binds both countries to collaborate on civil maritime nuclear applications. The study will look at ship and port security, nuclear safeguards, cyber resilience, emergency response, insurance and the difficult task of aligning maritime and nuclear regulatory regimes.
The project comes as nuclear propulsion rapidly moves from the fringes of shipping’s future-fuels debate towards something governments, class societies, shipowners and ports are taking increasingly seriously.
In May, the US administration launched a formal initiative to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping, instructing the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to investigate how nuclear propulsion could be deployed across American fleets at scale. MARAD subsequently signed up the ports of Long Beach and Corpus Christi to explore how SMRs could be integrated into ships, terminals and the wider marine transportation system.
In August, MARAD signed a memorandum of cooperation with UK based nuclear technology start-up Core Power to accelerate a US-flagged fleet of nuclear-powered merchant ships by identifying obstacles that have kept nuclear propulsion confined to naval vessels. Core Power is targeting first construction from 2028, although the agreement does not commit MARAD to funding, procurement or acquiring vessels.
Earlier this year, Scorpio Tankers invested $10m in US nuclear start-up Ampera, initially targeting floating nuclear power barges with nuclear-powered merchant ships as a longer-term ambition.
There has also been some progress in developing regulatory with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Washington to launch ATLAS, Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea, bringing governments, regulators, shipowners and the nuclear industry together to discuss the rules needed for civilian nuclear shipping.
“The Pink Corridor joint development programme is an important step for the application of nuclear technology in merchant shipping,” said Nick Gross, LR Global Containerships Segment Director. “By taking a practical, collaborative approach, the project will examine the security and safeguards that would need to be addressed for safe operations. The partnership brings together industry-leading players across shipping, ports and classification, reflecting the growing interest in nuclear technology as a route to more sustainable maritime operations.”
Adam Ramsey, Commercial Director at the Port of Felixstowe, said: “As the UK’s largest and busiest container port, the Port of Felixstowe is well-positioned to support the Pink Corridor and contribute practical insight to this important early-stage work.
“We are committed to improving the efficiency and resilience of our own operations, while supporting the wider industry as it explores sustainable, long-term propulsion options for global trade.”
Tom Boyle, South Carolina Ports Director of Vessel Operations & Carrier Sales, said: “As a major US East Coast port, Charleston is always looking for innovative, cost effective and sustainable ways to move freight. The conceptual Pink Corridor project allows for the study of the possibility of a nuclear-powered maritime corridor.”
The outcomes of the initial phase of the Pink Corridor project will provide the basis for the scope of a potential second phase, including areas requiring further study across engineering, regulatory, legislative, security and safeguards frameworks for nuclear merchant ships.
The collaboration builds on LR and Core Power’s 2024 regulatory assessment study, which was formalised with Maersk through a joint development project exploring the safety, operational and regulatory requirements for applying advanced nuclear power to container shipping.
