129 An increasing number of cruise ships are connecting to shore power wherever it is available to reduce emissions in ports Photo: ROSTOCK PORT/nordlicht record of any energy source with an average of 0.03 deaths per terawatt hour of electricity produced. This compares to 24.62 and 18.43 deaths per terawatt hour for coal and oil respectively, according to figures collated by scientific publication, Our World in Data. While NS Savannah was ahead of its time when it launched in 1959, its safety record was exemplary. More modern maritime applications of nuclear power, such as on Russian icebreaker Yakutiya, which accommodates passengers on arctic voyages, and naval vessels operated by the UK, USA and France, all adhere to strict safety standards. Zero operational emissions The big draw for nuclear propulsion is its zero-emissions credentials. Our sector has long been criticised for its impact on the environment, and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of cruise ships is therefore paramount if we are to improve the industry’s environmental footprint and image. Operational emissions from nuclear are negligible, however the management of decommissioned nuclear material is a key element to widespread adoption. If we can ensure the spent fuel from decommissioned reactors can be stored, disposed of, and recycled in land-based applications, the nuclear question becomes one of economic viability rather than safety. Cost barriers and regulatory hurdles Initial capital expenditure will be a significant outlay for owners; however, this will be offset in the long run by relatively low operational costs. Plus, a propulsion system does not rely on fuel availability or production like many of the other traditional and alternative fuel sources. With the sizeable investment required to get a nuclear-powered cruise ship in the water there is little incentive for first movers without a welcoming regulatory landscape. Current regulations are catered towards nuclear vessels operated by navies, and it remains to be seen whether they could be amended to apply to cruise ships operating with nuclear reactors. Whilst the regulations will need to catch up with technology and investment, the cruise sector and the maritime industry as a whole has a heritage of innovation that we must draw upon, in order to take advantage of the significant opportunities nuclear propulsion presents. The movement on this has already started at the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we could see more advances in the coming years. Gianpaolo Dalla Vedova is strategic business partner and country lead for Italy at Lloyd’s Register “ A cruise ship using nuclear propulsion could be on the water in 15 years’ time”
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