ICONE19-43821 NUCLEAR POWERED SHIPS : Findings from A FEASIBILITY STUDY

Abstract

Nuclear shipping is attractive for several reasons, one of which is its positive effect on emissions (CO2, NOx and SOx) The benefits, however, do not come without risks of possible harmful effects on humans and wildlife Nuclear ships set themselves apart from conventional ships, as well as from on-shore nuclear power-plants, on several counts 1) The reactor-unit are non-stationary, and the reactor is subject to the ship motions 2) Ship reactors must be compact due to space constraints 3) Special design considerations are required to ensure reactor safety and security, as well as to enable refuelling 4) A naval nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure for fuel fabrication, handling, and disposal is needed Technological feasibility of nuclear shipping is by itself inconclusive to a expansion into civilian applications and use Civilian nuclear propulsion needs to be commercially viable and politically acceptable Appropriate legislation must be in place, and nuclear shipping concepts with proven safety records and highest possible nuclear proliferation-resistance must be established Possible 'showstoppers' to a viable nuclear civilian shipping industry are outlined in the paper in view of Political, Technical, Regulatory, Commercial, Safety and Security aspects Further, different types of ships with different propulsion system are compared in lights of life cycle cost and air emission (author)