Two US firms want to develop a ship capable of nuclear power generation
Shipping company Crowley has partnered with nuclear energy firm BWX Technologies (BWXT) to conceptualise a vessel that can generate nuclear power via an onboard nuclear reactor.
PHOTO: Concept image of Crowley and BWXT's nuclear power-generation vessel. Crowley
Crowley and BWXT aim to develop shallow-draft hull ships that will feature a 5-50 megawatt (MW) modular nuclear reactor on board.
Based on the proposed concept, the nuclear reactor onboard the vessel would “be activated upon arrival at the destination and be deactivated and transported after the power supply is discontinued,” Crowley explained.
The companies plan on using the vessel to provide power supply to shore-based facilities, such as “military bases in remote island locations, backup utility grids after disasters, and provide power in other scenarios where traditional electricity sources are damaged or not possible.”
Rising maritime interest in nuclear energy
Commercial shipping is slowly opening up to the notion of using nuclear energy - either to produce fuel for vessels or directly power them - as the stigma surrounding this source of energy is gradually receding.
British startup Core Power and Danish engineering firm Seaborg Technologies are working on two separate floating nuclear power plants to power green hydrogen and green ammonia production.
Meanwhile, classification societies American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and DNV recently endorsed nuclear-based propulsion for commercial vessels as a potential solution to decarbonise shipping in the long-term.
“Nuclear power could offer several advantages for the commercial fleet like eliminating the need for bunkering services — which can save time and money for vessels that operate in remote or isolated areas — and extending the lifespan of vessels as nuclear reactors have longer operational cycles than conventional engines,” ABS report said.
In its Maritime Forecast 2050 report, DNV said that in addition to zero-emission operations, “a nuclear-powered ship is less exposed to risks related to price fluctuations and availability of carbon-neutral fuels, as well as possible changes in emission regulations and emission costs.” It also argued that such vessels would have “long bunkering intervals” which would correspond to “the dry-docking schedule or even the lifetime of the ship.”
While nuclear power has received some positive support from the maritime industry, experts have also underscored the need to ensure maximum safety on vessels equipped with nuclear reactors to prevent catastrophic nuclear accidents.
By Konica Bhatt
Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online
