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The Economics of Nuclear Propulsion for Containerships

Journal Article

Title: The Economics of Nuclear Propulsion for Containerships
Author:
G. Locatelli, Guglielmetti, N., Dei, G., Skliarenko, V.
Publication Date:
Journal:
Progress in Nuclear Energy
Volume:
196
Pages:
1-17
Publisher:
Elsevier
Fuels Group:
Nuclear
Fuel Blends Mentioned?
No
Topics:
Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), Policy, Strategy and Transition Pathways
Vessel Segment:
Ocean-going Vessels
Language:
English

Document Access

Website:
Document Source
Attachment: Access File
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Citation

G. Locatelli; Guglielmetti, N.; Dei, G.; Skliarenko, V. (2026). The Economics of Nuclear Propulsion for Containerships. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 196, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2026.106312
@article{G. Locatelli-2026-,
author = {G Locatelli and Guglielmetti, N and Dei, G and Skliarenko, V},
title = {The Economics of Nuclear Propulsion for Containerships},
journal = {Progress in Nuclear Energy},
year = {2026},
month = {jun},
publisher = {Elsevier},
volume = {196},
pages = {1--17},
doi = {10.1016/j.pnucene.2026.106312},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149197026000776},
keywords = {Nuclear, Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), Policy, Strategy and Transition Pathways, Ocean-going Vessels},
}
Export Citation to BibTex
TY - JOUR
TI - The Economics of Nuclear Propulsion for Containerships
AU - G Locatelli
AU - Guglielmetti, N
AU - Dei, G
AU - Skliarenko, V
T2 - Progress in Nuclear Energy
AB - The maritime shipping sector, which accounts for 80% of global trade by volume, faces a significant challenge in decarbonising. This article examines the economic competitiveness of nuclear containerships, drawing on current industrial and academic literature on nuclear power integration in maritime shipping. First, we analyse the design and operational characteristics influenced by nuclear power adoption and identify key barriers to its deployment. Second, we develop a scenario-based model to assess the economic competitiveness of nuclearpowered containerships compared to conventional and alternative fuel systems, using the Levelised Cost of Transport as the primary metric. We show that nuclear power applied to containership propulsion may represent an economically competitive solution in specific scenarios characterised by high cruising speeds and favourable CAPEX for nuclear reactor engines. The learning process of building and operating nuclear containerships might play a key role in making this technological option economically viable at scale.
DA - 2026/06//
PY - 2026
PB - Elsevier
VL - 196
SP - 1
EP - 17
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149197026000776
DO - 10.1016/j.pnucene.2026.106312
LA - English
KW - Nuclear
KW - Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)
KW - Policy, Strategy and Transition Pathways
KW - Ocean-going Vessels
ER -
Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

The maritime shipping sector, which accounts for 80% of global trade by volume, faces a significant challenge in decarbonising. This article examines the economic competitiveness of nuclear containerships, drawing on current industrial and academic literature on nuclear power integration in maritime shipping. First, we analyse the design and operational characteristics influenced by nuclear power adoption and identify key barriers to its deployment. Second, we develop a scenario-based model to assess the economic competitiveness of nuclearpowered containerships compared to conventional and alternative fuel systems, using the Levelised Cost of Transport as the primary metric. We show that nuclear power applied to containership propulsion may represent an economically competitive solution in specific scenarios characterised by high cruising speeds and favourable CAPEX for nuclear reactor engines. The learning process of building and operating nuclear containerships might play a key role in making this technological option economically viable at scale.