A leading shipbuilder and class society have joined with 11 nuclear energy companies to form a new organisation to advance nuclear power in the commercial marine sector
South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai and class society Lloyd’s Register have joined with 11 nuclear energy companies to establish Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO).
One of the goals of NEMO is to work with IMO to establish a set of standards for using nuclear power on board commercial vessels. Additionally, the London-based NGO wants to work with IMO and the International Atomic Energy Agency to develop standards for floating nuclear power plants that can operate offshore or in coastal areas.
There has even been a recent effort to potentially use modular reactors to decarbonise oil and gas production.
NEMO points out SOLAS Chapter 8 and the Safety Code for Nuclear Merchant Ships – Res A.491.Xii was ratified by IMO in 1981. “The time has come for a review of that code to make it relevant for maritime in the 21st century,” said the NGO.
Among those joining NEMO is US-based small modular reactor (SMR) company Terrapower, founded by Bill Gates in 2008, nuclear reactor power plant company Westinghouse EC and Danish molten salt reactor company Seaborg.
Nuclear power could potentially power zero-emissions ships and be used to produce e-fuels. HD Hyundai’s parent, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, has its sights set on developing SMRs for use on commercial newbuilds. It struck a deal in February to do just that with TerraPower and Core Power using SMRs based on TerraPower’s molten chloride fast reactor design.
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