The World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) and the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organisation (NEMO) have penned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on advancing nuclear-powered shipping and transportable nuclear power plants (TNPP).
As disclosed, the partners will seek to pioneer the creation of international standards that put the priority mark on safety, security and sustainability in both the transport of nuclear and radioactive materials and the usage of nuclear energy at sea or in remote locations.
To be more specific, under the MoU, WNTI is to concentrate on the secure transport of nuclear materials and TNPPs, while NEMO will endeavor to tackle issues related to nuclear-powered and propelled vessels, including regulation, design and operations. The parties said they will work on floating nuclear power plants (FNPP) together.
As noted, the bipartite initiative is also envisaged to support WNTI’s five-year strategy, due to be launched later this year, which is said to be focused on the delivery and growth of a global nuclear and radioactive materials transport industry.
Speaking about the development, Pete Bryant, Chief Executive Officer, WNTI, remarked: “This collaboration is a crucial step toward accelerating clean energy innovation – helping us tackle climate change and deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mamdouh El-Shanawany , Chairman, NEMO, added that the efforts WNTI and NEMO are making represent the laying of groundwork for “a new era” of clean maritime transport.
WNTI and NEMO joining forces comes amid efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) to kickstart the ATLAS (Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea) program later this year. The program is designed to assist nations in creating regulations and guidelines for the transport of small modular reactors (SMR) and the use of nuclear enery at sea.
NEMO, which was awarded NGO Consultative Status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in mid-July this year, is an active participant in this vision.
As the maritime industry sails ever closer to Net Zero, nuclear energy has emerged as a possible low-emission propulsion option for commercial shipping. It is under consideration for its high energy density and the potential for nuclear-powered vessels to ‘tremendously’ reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during operation.
That said, a lack of robust regulatory frameworks, safety concerns, and public acceptance remain significant obstacles. According to the New Energies Coalition, which was formed by French maritime transport heavyweight CMA CGM, unlocking the potential of nuclear power in future shipping and port operations will require close coordination between industry stakeholders, regulators, and governments.
Moreover, per the organization’s report, these endeavors need to be ramped up over the next decade to meet the envisioned goals.
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