Shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk has teamed up with Lloyd’s Register, the Port of Charleston in the US and the Port of Felixstowe in the UK, to explore the feasibility of a nuclear-powered container shipping route between the two ports.
Dubbed the ‘Pink Corridor’, the study will seek to identify and address the ‘operational, security and safeguarding requirements’ that would need to be in place before such a route could be considered.
Areas set to be explored include ship security, nuclear safeguards, cyber resilience, emergency response and insurance arrangements. At this stage, the project includes a conceptual nuclear-powered vessel, rather than a real ship, initially assessing how practical and regulatory requirements could be aligned to facilitate nuclear-powered commercial shipping.
‘An important step’
“The Pink Corridor joint development programme is an important step for the application of nuclear technology in merchant shipping,” commented Nick Gross, global containerships segment director, Lloyd’s Register.
“By taking a practical, collaborative approach, the project will examine the security and safeguards that would need to be addressed for safe operations. The partnership brings together industry-leading players across shipping, ports and classification, reflecting the growing interest in nuclear technology as a route to more sustainable maritime operations.”
Maritime development
The initiative will support broader maritime development under the US-UK Technology Prosperity Deal, the groups said, and provide a basis for future collaboration.
It builds on a regulatory assessment study undertaken by Lloyd’s Register and Core Power in 2024, which looked at the safety, operational and regulatory requirements for applying advanced nuclear power to container shipping.
“The Port of Felixstowe is well-positioned to support the Pink Corridor and contribute practical insight to this important early-stage work,” added Adam Ramsey, commercial director, Port of Felixstowe. “We are committed to improving the efficiency and resilience of our own operations, while supporting the wider industry as it explores sustainable, long-term propulsion options for global trade.” Read more here.
