In the UK, the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization confirmed that the International Maritime Organization has begun rewriting the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships and SOLAS Chapter VIII, marking the first full revision since 1981. The decision follows a directive from the Maritime Safety Committee, which flagged the outdated framework as a roadblock to adopting modern nuclear propulsion.
The Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction formed a Working Group on GHG Safety to develop a multi-year work plan and terms of reference for an intersessional group focused on nuclear, wind, and battery technologies. Delegates debated how to apply IMO’s goal-based standards methodology, with additional alignment expected from the IAEA’s forthcoming ATLAS framework.
For the first time, national nuclear regulators joined maritime officials at the table. Early tasks include compiling hazard studies, identifying design challenges for shipboard reactors, and mapping regulatory conflicts between the Nuclear Code and SOLAS. NEMO committed task-force resources to support the rewrite. Final adoption of the updated Code and related SOLAS amendments is planned for 2030, though delays remain likely without funding for in-person meetings. The draft work plan is set to go before the Maritime Safety Committee later this year.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
