4 Oct 2024
Leading Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has published "Requirements for Nuclear Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications", announcing the new rule set at a forum held together with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) at ABS Headquarters in Texas.
According to ABS, the rules have been developed "for classification requirements specific to design, construction, and survey of vessels fitted with nuclear power systems whose generated power is transferred or distributed to onboard industrial or adjacent facilities. Nuclear power service vessels are intended to operate nuclear power plant systems while temporarily or permanently stationed. This document is not applicable where nuclear power is used for propulsion or auxiliary services on self-propelled vessels".
Somewhat unusually, the rule set lets designers take into account any kind of reactor technology and suggest a framework for nuclear regulators to interact with flag administrations—the national body that the vessel is registered with—and ABS to obtain full regulatory supervision and licensing.
However it remains the responsibility of the nuclear regulator to license the reactor and applicable nuclear safety structures, systems and components.
During the same event, firms presented their most recent reactor technologies, while ABS and Herbert Engineering published a comprehensive study that modelled the operation, design, and emissions of a floating nuclear power plant. Workshops with prominent figures in the offshore sector followed in order to learn about their needs and the operational difficulties that floating nuclear power plant technology will face.
"We demonstrated today that nuclear's potential in the maritime domain is so much more than a reactor on a ship. Nuclear energy can link energy demands across the electric, industrial and shipping transportation sectors to optimise energy generation and use, maintain grid reliability and support decarbonisation of shipping and industry. Not to mention its vast potential for the production of clean fuels such as e-ammonia and e-hydrogen. It is clear that nuclear energy has the potential to be a disruptor for the maritime industry. This is why we are proud to produce the first comprehensive rule set for the industry as an important step forward for the adoption of the technology." - Chris Wiernicki, CEO ABS
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