Advanced nuclear power for clean maritime propulsion

Concern with climate change is a powerful driving force in energy policy today. Maritime transport is a major component of the global commercial exchanges in raw materials and goods. Its importance will presumably increase due to the economic growth of the planet. The major drawback lies in its use of fossil fuels, contributing significantly to the worldwide CO2 releases. Decarbonising maritime transport can be done using nuclear power. Naval propulsion has been associated with nuclear technology since the early times in submarines. The paper discusses how emerging advanced nuclear technologies could contribute to the deployment of a commercial fleet with optimised properties, including speed and environmental impact.