DNV highlights modular reactor designs and regulation as key to future nuclear-powered shipping

DNV highlights modular reactor designs and regulation as key to future nuclear-powered shipping

(IN BRIEF) DNV has released a new white paper exploring the potential of nuclear propulsion in driving maritime decarbonization amid rising environmental pressures. The report examines the technological, regulatory, and commercial challenges involved in adapting nuclear energy for maritime use, while identifying modularization, automation, and digital innovation as key enablers for safety and efficiency. DNV Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen highlighted the need for international collaboration and strong regulatory frameworks to address public concerns and ensure safe implementation. Lead author Ole Christen Reistad emphasized that the long-term commercial viability of nuclear-powered shipping depends on lifecycle cost management, standardized reactor design, and reliable supply chains. The study urges stakeholders, including the IMO and IAEA, to coordinate efforts toward developing harmonized global regulations.

(PRESS RELEASE) HØVIK, 21-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A new white paper from DNV is sparking renewed discussion about nuclear propulsion as a potential long-term solution for achieving maritime decarbonization. Despite the fact that no civilian commercial nuclear-powered ships have been commissioned for more than 40 years, evolving environmental demands are prompting shipowners and regulators to revisit nuclear technologies as part of the industry’s transition to sustainable energy.

The report, titled “Maritime nuclear propulsion: Technologies, commercial viability, and regulatory challenges for nuclear-powered vessels,” provides a detailed overview of how marine nuclear systems differ from conventional land-based reactors. It underscores the importance of tackling the technical, regulatory, and commercial hurdles that must be addressed before nuclear propulsion can become a viable option for the maritime sector.

DNV’s analysis covers every stage of the future maritime nuclear fuel cycle — from fuel production and waste management to ship construction, operations, and oversight of nuclear supply chains. The paper highlights advances in automation, digitalization, and modular design as vital elements for enhancing safety, ensuring security, and supporting non-proliferation, all of which are essential to building public confidence in nuclear technology at sea.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, Maritime CEO at DNV, emphasized the potential and challenges of nuclear power in the industry’s energy transition: “Nuclear energy has the potential to play a role in the maritime energy transition. However, much work still needs to be done to overcome technical, regulatory, and societal challenges, including public perception. This will require coordinated global action, technological innovation, and closely aligned regulatory frameworks.”

The white paper also calls for the establishment of predictable and harmonized regulations across both national and international levels. It highlights the key role of organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), flag states, classification societies, and national authorities in shaping a coordinated global framework for the safe implementation of nuclear propulsion.

Moreover, DNV’s study stresses that commercial success in this area will depend heavily on cost-effective and scalable business models. It suggests that mass production, modularization, and standardization can enhance economic feasibility. A case study included in the report demonstrates the cost thresholds marine nuclear reactors must reach to make nuclear-powered shipping viable for the merchant fleet.

Ole Christen Reistad, Senior Principal Researcher at DNV and the paper’s lead author, added: “For nuclear propulsion to become commercially viable in shipping, the business case must account for the full lifecycle costs, including fuel supply, reactor maintenance, and waste management. Modular and standardized reactor designs can significantly reduce capital and operational expenditures, while robust regulatory frameworks and predictable supply chains are essential for investor confidence and long-term competitiveness.”

The full white paper is available for download on DNV’s website.

Media contact:

Margrethe Andersen
Head of External Communications, Maritime
+47 47 68 22 89

SOURCE: DNV