Lloyd’s Register (LR) has entered into a significant collaboration with Queensland’s ship design group Seatransport and Houston-based Deployable Energy to develop nuclear power generation for maritime applications, primarily focusing on emergency response vessels operating in remote areas.
The partnership aims to use micromodular reactor (MMR) technology to power a 73-meter amphibious vessel designed for disaster relief operations. The ship would be equipped with two to five MMRs, each with a 1-megawatt electric (MWe) capacity. This would enable continuous operation for 8-10 years without refuelling while providing power to shore grids in affected regions.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) traces its origins to 1760 when a group of merchants, shipowners, and underwriters gathered at Edward Lloyd’s coffee house in London to establish a system for independent inspection of merchant ships. This initial registry served as a classification for insurers, helping them assess vessel reliability and seaworthiness. As maritime trade grew throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Lloyd’s Register evolved from a single volume documenting ship conditions into a comprehensive classification society that established technical standards, conducted surveys, and certified compliance—activities forming modern maritime safety’s foundation.
Pioneering new tech for vessels has been a staple of the organisation’s history. During the Industrial Revolution, it began certifying steam engines and boilers; in the 20th century, it moved into aviation, energy, and nuclear sectors; and in recent decades, it has developed expertise in sustainability and digital technologies.
The proposed amphibious stern landing vessel (SLV) is designed for emergency response and disaster relief in remote areas. Operating from Fiji, the hub for South West Pacific disaster response, these vessels could deliver aid to surrounding countries within days instead of weeks, significantly improving emergency response times compared to aid from Australia or New Zealand.
According to the partners, a single SLV could deliver containerised emergency shelters, medical facilities, and toilets to accommodate up to 750 people affected by the disaster. The vessels would require minimal coastal infrastructure to operate—just a simple concrete ramp and berthing pile—making them suitable for deployment in remote coastal regions with limited port facilities.
“As nuclear technology progresses towards maritime applications, LR is uniquely positioned to help develop these initiatives,” explained Claudene Sharp-Patel, LR’s Global Technical Director. “We bring our extensive history in maritime and nuclear safety, providing a strong foundation for safe, insurable, and scalable nuclear-powered shipping.”
Technical Deep Dive: Micro Modular Reactor Technology
Micromodular reactors (MMRs) represent a significant advancement in nuclear engineering, explicitly designed for applications requiring compact, reliable, and long-duration power sources. Unlike conventional nuclear reactors, MMRs are characterised by:
Design Principles:
- Passive Safety Systems: MMRs utilise natural convection, conduction, and radiation for heat transfer rather than active pumping systems, enhancing safety through physical processes without external power.
- Compact Modular Design: Factory-built in standardised units, MMRs can be transported to deployment sites intact, reducing construction time and costs.
- Self-Contained Systems: The entire reactor, including primary and secondary cooling circuits, is housed within a sealed unit, minimising the risk of radioactive material release.
Technical Specifications for Maritime Applications:
- Power Output: 1 MWe per unit (compared to 1,000+ MWe for conventional nuclear power plants)
- Fuel Utilisation: High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) with enrichment between 5-20% U-235
- Operational Lifetime: 8-10 years without refueling
- Core Size: Significantly smaller than conventional reactors, with the entire reactor fitting within a 20-foot shipping container
- Weight Considerations: Engineered to maintain vessel stability with naval architecture adaptations
Heat Transfer Mechanisms: Maritime MMRs employ advanced heat transfer technologies, with designs typically falling into three categories:
- Heat Pipe MMRs: Using passive heat pipes filled with liquid metal to transfer heat from the core to power conversion systems
- Liquid Metal Cooled MMRs: Using liquid metals (sodium, lead, or lead-bismuth eutectic) as primary coolants for efficient heat transfer
- High-Temperature Gas MMRs: Using helium or other inert gases for heat transfer in higher-temperature applications
Control Systems: Maritime MMRs feature redundant control systems, including:
- Neutron-absorbing control rods for power regulation
- Burnable poisons integrated into the fuel to maintain consistent reactivity over a core lifetime
- Negative temperature coefficients that automatically reduce reactor power if temperatures rise
- Multiple independent shutdown mechanisms requiring no operator intervention
Containment Engineering: To meet maritime safety requirements, MMRs employ multiple containment barriers:
- Fuel cladding to contain fission products
- Reactor pressure vessel designed to withstand extreme conditions
- Secondary containment structure providing additional isolation
- Ship hull offering tertiary containment
These engineering advances allow MMRs to be deployed safely in maritime environments while delivering consistent power for extended periods—a critical requirement for disaster relief operations in remote regions.
The MMR technology developed for these vessels significantly advances nuclear maritime applications. Deployable Energy is developing the 1 MW Unity Nuclear Battery, a transportable, factory-built, plug-and-play power system that fits within a standard 20-foot shipping container. The company aims to have 100,000 nuclear batteries deployed by 2040, with a target delivery cost of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
For the maritime sector, these reactors offer several advantages over conventional power systems:
- Extended Operational Range: The ability to operate for 8-10 years without refuelling eliminates the need for frequent port calls and bunkering.
- Zero Emissions Operation: Nuclear propulsion produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions or other air pollutants during operation.
- Consistent Power Supply: The reactors provide a reliable and steady energy output regardless of external conditions, critical for emergency response missions.
- Secondary Power Generation: When docked, vessels can feed power into local grids, supporting recovery efforts in disaster-affected areas.
The environmental benefits of nuclear-powered vessels extend beyond zero-emission propulsion. Seatransport estimates that a single SLV operating out of Fiji’s Lautoka Port could reduce the country’s diesel consumption by more than five million litres annually if used to provide nighttime power to complement daytime solar generation.
This hybrid approach to energy production could significantly contribute to decarbonisation efforts in Pacific island nations, which depend heavily on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation.
The development of nuclear-powered commercial vessels presents significant regulatory challenges. Lloyd’s Register, with its expertise in both maritime and nuclear safety, is leading the initiative to establish quality protocols and safety standards. The company previously released a report concluding that nuclear power could transform the maritime industry with emissions-free shipping while extending vessel lifecycles.
Safety considerations are paramount in the development of nuclear maritime technology. The micromodular reactors being developed incorporate multiple passive safety features designed to prevent accidents and minimise impact in emergencies. These include:
- Automatic shutdown systems that require no operator intervention
- Multiple containment barriers to prevent radiation release
- Low-pressure operation reduces the risk of explosive decompression
- Design elements that utilise natural physics to maintain safety even during system failures
This collaboration could signal a general shift in maritime operations, particularly for humanitarian response and remote area deployments. If successful, the technology could eventually be applied to various commercial shipping applications, contributing to the global maritime decarbonisation efforts.
The initiative aligns with international efforts to reduce shipping emissions, including the International Maritime Organization’s revised greenhouse gas strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero CO2 equivalent emissions by around 2050.
While significant technical and regulatory hurdles remain, the partnership between Lloyd’s Register, Seatransport, and Deployable Energy marks an essential step toward establishing nuclear power as a viable option for specialised maritime applications, particularly those where operational endurance and energy independence are critical.
As the project advances, it will likely serve as a testing ground for broader nuclear power applications in the maritime sector, potentially reshaping approaches to vessel design, operation, and lifecycle management in the coming decades.
TLDR
- Lloyd’s Register, Seatransport, and Deployable Energy are collaborating to develop nuclear-powered vessels for disaster relief operations.
- The 73m amphibious vessels will use multiple 1MWe micro modular reactors, enabling 8-10 years of operation without refuelling.
- These vessels could deliver emergency aid to remote Pacific regions within days rather than weeks, supporting up to 750 people per vessel.
- The technology could reduce diesel consumption by millions of litres while providing power to local grids in affected areas.
- Nuclear maritime applications face significant regulatory challenges, with Lloyd’s Register taking the lead on establishing safety protocols.
