ABS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christopher J. Wiernicki, welcomed nuclear energy experts, government representatives, academia, and senior maritime industry leaders from around the world for ABS forum, the Role of Advanced Nuclear Technologies in the Maritime Energy Transition in Washington, D.C.
In particular, he sent his message, explaining that nuclear energy has moved beyond a wildcard option and into the mainstream of potential solutions for a more sustainable maritime industry. Nuclear energy is not just about the potential for a reactor to operate on a ship. He said that with advanced nuclear technology, the potential is so much more.
We see nuclear energy as an enabler for producing clean energy and clean fuels and as a power source for ship propulsion. Modern nuclear and renewable based energy systems extend our line of sight of solutions to achieve net zero by 2050.
…said Wiernicki.
The full-day conference confirmed the potential for advanced nuclear technologies in the maritime domain to provide a game-changing clean energy transition safely with project implementations likely to occur in the next 10 to 12 years.
Representatives from global shipyards and ship designers, nuclear technology developers, nuclear and maritime industry associations, academia and a variety of government agencies engaged in discussions in four panels moderated by ABS on technology maturity, regulatory and safety/risk considerations, maritime industry readiness, and port infrastructure readiness.
The developmental path for nuclear energy at sea will require a concerted public-private effort in which innovation and system technologies are reduced to practice through modeling and simulation with a laser focus on safety.
…said Wiernicki.
There is a real opportunity right now for forward-thinking governments to drive the agenda with practical projects by providing real applications of advanced nuclear technology in a government controlled and regulated environment. Government applications on dredges, strategic sealift vessels, ice breakers, and research vessels may be a great place to start.
…he said.
The day before the forum, Wiernicki hosted a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill in coordination with the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) and the bipartisan House Advanced Nuclear Caucus, including introductory comments by caucus members Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) and Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19). Wiernicki emphasized that turning advanced nuclear technology into a practical reality for the maritime industry is an important tool for helping the maritime industry achieve net zero by 2050 and has the potential to grow economic opportunity and high-tech jobs in the maritime industry.
