The Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO) today warmly welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding the Technology Prosperity Deal. This announcement of increased transatlantic cooperation is aimed at accelerating the development of regulatory, safety, and operational frameworks for maritime nuclear technologies, including floating nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered merchant ships.
A strengthened bilateral partnership is a significant milestone in global efforts to decarbonize shipping and coastal industrial end-users, improve resilience of logistics networks, and promote safe, sustainable maritime nuclear deployment.
NEMO believes that by combining U.S. and U.K. technical expertise, regulatory leadership, research capacity, and industrial capability, this partnership will help align international frameworks and ensure that nuclear maritime applications proceed on a foundation of excellence in safety, security, environmental protection, and sustainability.
NEMO stands ready to support this collaboration through its role as the industry association for maritime nuclear, as well as a trusted advisor and partner to all stakeholders in establishing world-class maritime nuclear governance.”
Statement from the Insurance Sector
To underscore the importance of robust insurance frameworks as an integral part of maritime nuclear deployment, NEMO is grateful to the various insurance providers amongst its membership who have also voiced strong support. A prominent leader in nuclear insurance remarked:
“This enhanced U.S.–U.K. collaboration is precisely what the maritime nuclear industry needs. Unified regulatory clarity reduces uncertainty, enabling insurers to underwrite with confidence. Development of a bilateral liability convention between a strong pair of “frontrunner” nations will further underpin this confidence and make a dedicated nuclear corridor possible with early prototypes. With harmonised safety standards and risk assessments, we can support innovation while ensuring protection for operators, communities, and the environment.”
— Mark Popplewell, Managing Director – NuclearRisk Insurers Ltd and Vice-Chair of NEMO’s “Annorax” Working Group
Next Steps
In light of this announcement, NEMO will:
Engage with U.S. and U.K. regulators to offer technical input on draft regulations, standards, and guidance relating to floating nuclear platforms and nuclear propulsion.
Facilitate work to be undertaken under the Ministerial-level Working Groups and/or any future public-private task force related to this collaboration, engaging NEMOs member companies, classification societies, insurers, and researchers to explore harmonized safety criteria, insurance requirements, and operational risk mitigation.
Support joint research initiatives, specific pilot projects, and best practice sharing to ensure deployment proceeds safely, securely, and in ways that respond to safeguards protocols.
Promote alignment in training and capacity building so that the workforce is equipped globally to meet the technical and regulatory demands of maritime nuclear energy.
Source: NEMO