The Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO) has been granted NGO consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and formally invited to participate in the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This milestone represents a watershed moment in the development of global regulatory frameworks for nuclear technologies at sea.
For years, the development of nuclear maritime technologies has been constrained not by technical limitations, but by the absence of clear regulatory pathways and harmonised institutional frameworks.
NEMO’s new formal role helps to bridge this gap, ensuring that technical expertise, operational considerations and emerging innovation trajectories can now be integrated into the global policy and standard-setting processes that shape the future of shipping and offshore energy infrastructure.
The significance of this move is further amplified by NEMO’s expected participation in the IAEA’s ATLAS initiative, set to launch later this year. ATLAS will be the first international program specifically designed to support the development of regulatory frameworks for the deployment of nuclear energy at sea.
We are entering a new era – one in which nuclear energy is poised to become an integral part of the maritime operating environment. NEMO’s recognition at the IMO and IAEA affirms that this future is not only possible, but actively underway.
| ARGO: New Nuclear for Greek Maritime |
| Join us this September in Athens for ARGO: New Nuclear for Greek Maritime, a landmark event exploring how advanced nuclear technologies can unlock a sustainable, secure energy future for the Mediterranean. This high-level conference brings together shipping leaders and nuclear experts to explore the integration of nuclear energy into the Greek maritime industry. Sessions include: – Delivering nuclear-powered ships – Regulatory and safety frameworks – Floating nuclear for ports and islands – The future of nuclear in the Greek energy mix The event concludes with a cocktail reception – offering a chance to continue the conversation and connect with the industry’s most forward-thinking voices. One & Only Aesthesis, 166 74 Wednesday 25th September |1:30 PM – 9:00 PM |
| New nuclear in the news |
| Read on for a quick summary of this week’s news or click on the links below for details. |
- WNTI and NEMO announce partnership to launch the next wave of maritime nuclear innovation
- Plans for floating power plant and SMR on the Humber
- ABS and HEC present concept design for floating nuclear-powered data centre
- MOL to convert used car carrier into floating offshore data centre
| WNTI and NEMO announce partnership to launch the next wave of maritime nuclear Innovation |
The World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) and the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organisation (NEMO) have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly shape the future of nuclear-powered shipping and transportable nuclear power plants. The agreement formalises a collaboration to combine their respective expertise, industry insights, and practical experience to champion the development of international standards that prioritise safety, security, and safeguarding in both the transport of nuclear and radioactive materials and the use of nuclear energy at sea. Both parties will work in close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the integration of nuclear energy into the global maritime energy transition, with clear roles and shared goal. By working together, NEMO and WNTI will help to build the infrastructure, standards and policy frameworks needed to bring advanced nuclear energy safely into the maritime domain – supporting a global transition toward clean, scalable nuclear power. Read the full article. |
| Plans for floating power plant and SMR on the Humber |
| New energy plans for the Humber Estuary mark a significant step toward offshore and modular power innovation. Chiltern Vital Group and Freepan Holdings Corp have signed an agreement to explore deploying a floating liquified natural gas (LNG) powered barge to help ease grid constraints, with operation targeted for 2028. The project also opens the door to a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the same site – aligning with the UK’s push for flexible, clean energy solutions. With over 80 SMR designs in development globally, projects like this could reshape the region’s role in Britain’s energy transition. |
| ABS and HEC present concept design for floating nuclear-powered data centre |
| The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Herbert Engineering Corp. (HEC) have released a new concept study detailing a floating nuclear-powered data centre designed to support the growing energy demands of AI, cloud computing and cryptocurrency mining. The proposed barge combines a 70 MWe nuclear power plant with a high-density data centre, creating an “independently powered unit to be deployed on large river estuaries or coastal waters that are strategically located to serve the information technology infrastructure.”. The design builds on HEC’s previous work with floating nuclear power plants and leverages the Nautilus EcoCore cooling systems, already proven in the Stockton Port floating data centre. The concept represents a bold step toward decarbonising critical digital infrastructure whilst meeting the ever-increasing power demands of the AI era. A related project from MOL and Kinetics highlights the growing global interest in offshore data hubs, with plans to convert a used car carrier into a floating data centre – this one using conventional energy. |
Read about the MOL x Kinetics project.
