Navigating the regulatory seas for commercial maritime nuclear propulsion

As the global shipping industry pursues decarbonization to meet international climate goals, nuclear propulsion has emerged as a viable alternative to conventional diesel propulsion. Although no commercial nuclear ships operate outside of Russia today, nuclear cargo ships that have sailed out of the U.S., Germany, and Japan provide critical lessons on nuclear ship building, operation, and policy frameworks for future regulation. The path forward for nuclear regulation is complicated by outdated rules that bias towards old technology, nuanced international treaties, and a lack of clear processes for ship safety reviews. Additionally, ships powered by nuclear reactors are more susceptible to piracy of their technology, and as such, must address this ethical concern. To bring commercial nuclear ship propulsion closer to reality, interested nations can develop regulations that guide ship builders on how to seek approval for nuclear ships within existing standards and laws, support collaboration between nuclear and ship organizations, and engage in bilateral agreements that allow nuclear ships to travel between foreign ports. By leveraging historical experiences and modern advancements, we identify a roadmap for enabling the responsible adoption of nuclear propulsion in commercial shipping, contributing to both technological advancement and environmental sustainability.