The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has officially agreed to initiate the revision of outdated regulations governing the operation of nuclear-powered vessels.
During the 110th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), member states and NGOs called for an update to the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (Resolution A.491) and relevant sections of the SOLAS Convention.
A working group during MSC 110 drafted guidance for assigning the task to the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC), which is expected to begin discussions during its next session, scheduled for January 2026.
A key directive for the SDC is to expand the scope of the code beyond conventional pressurized water reactors (PWRs) with direct steam cycles. The updated code should also account for advancements in small modular reactors (SMRs) and fully electric ships powered by nuclear systems.
During the session, representatives of the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) emphasized the importance of this move. CORE POWER CEO Mikal Bøe thanked IMO delegates and noted:
“This decision paves the way for building an international framework that governs the safety and reliability of civil nuclear shipping.”
Later this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to launch the ATLAS initiative (Licensing Atomic Technologies for Maritime Applications). The project aims to support the development of regulatory frameworks for deploying nuclear propulsion systems and floating nuclear power plants in maritime applications.
