Lloyd's Register (LR) has published what it describes as the first comprehensive guidance document for integrating nuclear technology into commercial shipping and offshore operations, as the maritime sector explores atomic power for decarbonisation.

The guidance, titled 'Navigating Nuclear Energy in Maritime,' was developed in partnership with Global Nuclear Security Partners (GNSP) and marine insurer NorthStandard. It outlines regulatory, technical, operational, and financial requirements for incorporating nuclear technology, including small modular reactors (SMRs), into maritime assets.

The document addresses the absence of an international regulatory framework for nuclear-powered commercial shipping, discussing the roles of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It emphasises the need to harmonise maritime and nuclear standards.

Key areas covered include safety classification, environmental impact assessments, structural integrity, and nuclear safety case development. The guidance also addresses security measures, including physical and cyber protection systems and insider threat mitigation.

Operational considerations examined include personnel qualifications, emergency response planning, and quality assurance throughout project lifecycles. The document explores insurance and reinsurance challenges, advocating for predictable liability frameworks to support commercial viability.

Mark Tipping, LR's Global Power to X Director, commented: "Nuclear energy has the potential to transform maritime, providing a scalable and zero-carbon energy source that can accelerate the industry's energy transition. However, its adoption requires clarity, collaboration, and trust across regulators, operators, insurers, and wider society."

Nick Tomkinson, Senior Partner at Global Nuclear Security Partners, said: "Maritime nuclear will only succeed when safety, security, and safeguards are considered together from the start. This guidance document helps first movers align maritime and nuclear frameworks, apply goal-based approaches where prescriptive rules are absent, and build the confidence required by regulators, insurers, and the public."

Helen Barden, Director of External Affairs at NorthStandard, added: "We collaborated with Lloyd's Register to explore the insurance and reinsurance considerations for nuclear energy — particularly the interlink between classification and insurance, current P&I limitations around pooling nuclear risks, and the importance of liability frameworks."

The guidance builds on LR's 'Fuel for Thought: Nuclear' research programme and aims to address what the classification society describes as a knowledge gap in the sector. It combines classification, safety, and compliance expertise with nuclear insight to provide a framework for project teams at various development stages.