MSC 110 is expected to discuss nuclear shipping framework

Focus of MSC 110 and CG on GHG Safety

According to Core Power, the need to update the IMO’s regulatory framework for nuclear merchant ships will be discussed at an IMO meeting in June, with several Member States and NGOs calling for the work to start as soon as possible. The 110th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) will discuss the outcome of the work of the Correspondence Group on Development of a Safety Regulatory Framework to Support the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships Using New Technologies and Alternative Fuels (CG on GHG Safety).

The CG on GHG Safety has identified barriers and gaps in current IMO instruments that impede the safe use of alternative fuels and technologies, and developed recommendations to address them.

Barriers posed by the existing nuclear code

For nuclear, the CG on GHG Safety has identified that the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (resolution A.491(XII)) is a barrier to deploying advanced new technologies. The Code, which has not been updated since its adoption in 1981, is prescriptive in nature and currently limited to ships with Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) with direct steam cycle propulsion systems.

Call for a technology-neutral, goal-based update

The CG on GHG Safety, which was open to all IMO Member States and NGOs in consultative status, broadly agreed with recommendations that the Code should be updated to adequately address recent advances in new nuclear technologies by ensuring a technology-neutral, goal-based approach, and that it should reflect current IAEA standards. There was also broad support in the CG for using the input provided in MSC 108/INF.21 (WNTI) – which contains a comprehensive gap analysis – as a starting point to update the Code.

Role of the code and its relationship to SOLAS

The Code, which is a supplement to SOLAS Chapter VIII – Nuclear ships, was adopted as a guide to Administrations on the internationally accepted safety standards for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, salvage, and disposal of nuclear merchant ships.

Potential changes to SOLAS Chapter VIII

In addition to the Code, the CG on GHG Safety discussed whether changes are needed to SOLAS Chapter VIII itself, with several ideas put forward that will need to be discussed further. A review of other SOLAS Chapters to identify how they relate to nuclear-powered ships was also suggested.

Proposal for formal revision of the nuclear code

Nuclear will be on the agenda at MSC 110 alongside consideration of a range of fuels and technologies that can help ships reduce GHG emissions. However, several Member States and NGOs have proposed that MSC 110 should give the formal go-ahead for relevant sub-committees to start work on revising the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (resolution A.491(XII)). If these proposals are supported, revision of the Code could get underway early next year, Core Power concludes. 

To remind, last summer, Lloyd’s Register (LR) and CORE POWER launched a joint regulatory assessment study to conduct research on the regulatory feasibility and frameworks that would need to be established for a nuclear container ship using a fourth-generation reactor noted for its high inherent safety to undertake cargo operations at a port in Europe.