Class society Lloyd’s Register has announced Approval in Principle (AiP) for a hybrid nuclear ready power concept, developed with Australian ship design group, Seatransport, which would enable Micro Modular Reactors (MMRs) to be combined with conventional diesel-electric systems for 73-metre and 90-metre amphibious stern landing vessel (SLV) designs. The AiP is the culmination of a number of years of collaboration between LR and Seatransport, and the companies say they have now demonstrated how licensable MMRs can be safely integrated with proven diesel-electric systems to deliver long-range vessels with significantly reduced fuel dependence and emissions. A recently launched conventionally powered 73-metre […]

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced that its Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) has finalised a workplan to develop a safety regulatory framework for ships using new technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a statement published on its website yesterday (29 January), the IMO said that the workplan will involve developing or amending existing safety regulations related to nuclear power; wind-propulsion and wind-assisted power; and lithium-ion batteries and swappable traction battery containers on ships, that are under the purview of the SDC Sub-Committee.    The draft workplan will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 111) for […]

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has set out ‘seven certainties about energy for this age of uncertainty’ which include continued growth in renewables, a resurgence for nuclear power, greater energy security risks, and ‘ample’ manufacturing capacity for technologies such as batteries and solar panels – at least in the near term. Birol’s commentary was published as the energy sector contends with what he called a ‘blizzard of uncertainties’, including severe geopolitical volatility. However, he emphasised that during this time of flux there are some key trends for energy ‘that can help us keep our bearings.’ […]