The world’s second-biggest container line, in terms of available capacity, is exploring the potential of nuclear-powered container vessels.

Danish line Maersk has partnered with Lloyd’s Register and UK-based maritime technology partner Core Power to conduct a study assessing the feasibility of using nuclear power for container ships.

The research will focus on fourth-generation nuclear reactors.

This initiative aims to evaluate the necessary infrastructure, technology, safety regulations and operational frameworks required for nuclear-powered shipping in Europe.

The study, announced on August 15, highlights the urgency of finding low-carbon solutions for the maritime industry, which is under pressure to meet International Maritime Organization emission-reduction targets.

Maersk’s head of fleet technology, Ole Graa Jakobsen, acknowledged that, while nuclear power presents significant challenges such as safety, waste management and regulatory acceptance, it could become a viable decarbonisation pathway for the logistics industry in the next 10 to 15 years if these issues were addressed.

This exploration comes as the shipping sector seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which currently account for about 2% of global emissions and could rise significantly by 2050 without intervention.

The news marks another interesting decarbonisation development by Maersk following CEO Vincent Clerc’s about-turn from certain pronouncements by his predecessor, Soren Skou, about the line’s commitment to LNG-powered vessels.