Maersk is keeping all green propulsion options open, including green methanol, bio-LNG, and potentially nuclear power in the future.
The company has signed a joint development project agreement with Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Core Power to explore the regulatory feasibility of using fourth-generation nuclear reactors for containerships.
Fourth-generation
The study, supported by the Danish shipping company A.P. Moller Maersk, aims to examine the possibility of installing fourth-generation nuclear reactors to power container ships and address regulatory and safety concerns.
The study will focus on determining the updated safety regulations required and improving the operational and regulatory understanding needed to integrate nuclear power in container shipping.
Nuclear power challenges
Maersk’s Ole Graa Jakobsen emphasized that while nuclear power presents challenges, including safety and waste management, it could become a viable decarbonization pathway if these issues are addressed in the future.
Multi-fuel
Lloyd’s Register CEO Nick Brown highlighted the importance of a multi-fuel approach to meet IMO emission targets, and Core Power CEO Mikal Bøe stressed the need for a robust standards framework for commercial nuclear power in maritime settings.
