Coordination between the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), the IMO and national nuclear authorities will be necessary for the successful update of the IMO Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships, delegates learned at a NEMO (Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization) Workshop, hosted last week at Lloyd's Register’s historic headquarters in London.
Delegates from across the industry, including class, shipyards and nuclear technology developers, as well as NEMO and IAEA experts, were updated by the IMO on progress around the foundational first steps of investigating the potential hazards of implementing nuclear technology. This includes the design and operational measures required to manage those risks within the scope of the IMO's responsibility.
Important updates from the IMO and IAEA on ongoing developments were also shared at the two-day event, including notice of the upcoming launch of the IAEA initiative 'Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea' (ATLAS) in August this year.
The practical challenges of deploying nuclear in maritime applications were also discussed, with a focus on integrating ship and nuclear safety. LR is a founding member of NEMO and LR’ Senior Engineer for Nuclear Technology and Alternative Fuels, Meg Dowling, serves as a NEMO Working Group Chair and previously represented NEMO during the IMO SDC 12 Subcommittee in January of this year, which initiated the work to update the IMO Nuclear Code.
Commenting on the recent NEMO event, Dowling said: “As NEMO moves from strategically locating itself and its members squarely at the centre of international maritime regulatory development of nuclear technologies for applications at sea, the organisation is now moving towards action.”
Presentations on current developments within NEMO were shared along with, updates on small modular reactor (SMR) design for maritime application from nuclear technology developers, BWXT and Newcleo, as well as vessel design considerations from Vard.
