Lloyd’s Register (LR), a leading professional services company specializing in engineering and technology solutions, has published “Navigating Nuclear Energy in Maritime,” a new guidance document that provides the first comprehensive roadmap for the safe and responsible adoption of nuclear technology in the commercial shipping and offshore industries.
As the maritime sector intensifies its pursuit of sustainable energy solutions to achieve net-zero emissions, nuclear power has emerged as a viable, zero-carbon option. This LR guidance is designed to bridge a critical knowledge gap by setting out the practical, step-by-step requirements for integrating nuclear technology, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), into maritime assets.
Developed in partnership with Global Nuclear Security Partners (GNSP) and marine insurer NorthStandard, the document details the necessary regulatory, technical, operational, and financial requirements for project teams.
Given the absence of an international regulatory framework, the guidance is crucial for establishing initial best practices. It discusses the roles of key global bodies, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasizing the need to harmonize maritime and nuclear standards.
Key technical and safety topics covered include:
Safety classification and the development of a robust nuclear safety case.
Environmental impact assessments.
Structural integrity.
Security measures, with a focus on physical, cyber protection, and insider threat mitigation.
The document thoroughly explores the practical challenges of deployment, including:
Personnel qualifications and training.
Emergency response planning.
Quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
Critically, it also examines the complexities of insurance and reinsurance, advocating for a predictable liability framework essential for commercial viability and supporting the maritime industry’s transition.
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, Global Nuclear Security Partners, commented: “Maritime nuclear will only succeed when safety, security, and safeguards are considered together from the start. This 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 – External Affairs at NorthStandard, added: “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. We welcome the growing recognition that nuclear could play a meaningful role in the decarbonisation of shipping.”
LR’s guidance builds upon its industry-leading Fuel for Thought: Nuclear research program, combining decades of classification and compliance expertise with specialist nuclear insight to provide an evidence-based framework for project development.
