Study on nuclear-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier released

News

A study by ULC-Energy and C-Job Naval Architects compares nuclear, VLSFO, and green ammonia-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers.

Study on nuclear-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier released
© ULC-Energy / C-Job Naval Architects

ULC-Energy has completed a study analysing the design and economic implications of using civil nuclear reactor technology to power a Newcastlemax bulk carrier. The study compares a nuclear-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier with one powered by conventional very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and one powered by green ammonia.

In collaboration with C-Job Naval Architects, the study explores the design impact, GHG emissions, and commercial performance for each fuel type.

The study offers a thorough analysis of these critical elements. Specifically, the study provided the following insights:

  • 1. The structural and safety modifications needed to integrate a nuclear reactor into a Newcastlemax bulk carrier would have minimal impact on its cargo capacity.
  • 2. Nuclear propulsion offers the lowest operational cost per tonne shipped, significantly lower than alternatives like ammonia or VLSFO. While the lower fuel costs of a nuclear-powered ship are partly offset by the higher capital expenditures required to construct the vessel, the study found that a nuclear-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier could sail longer, faster, and cheaper, all without producing GHG emissions.
  • 3. A nuclear-powered Newcastlemax has nearly zero GHG emissions, lower even than a ship powered by green ammonia, demonstrating the potential of nuclear propulsion to support the shipping industry’s decarbonisation goals.

The study acknowledged that civil nuclear maritime propulsion faces licensing, operational, and other challenges. Given that most nuclear reactor designs being considered for maritime use are still in the conceptual phase, current estimates for the capital costs of such ships are limited; however, accuracy will improve as projects mature.

About ULC Energy and C-Job

ULC-Energy is a nuclear energy development and consultancy company, established in 2021 in The Netherlands and based in Amsterdam. ULC-Energy believes that nuclear energy can deliver unrivalled benefits when it comes to reliability, economics, and the environmental footprint of energy production.

C-Job Naval Architects is an independent ship design and engineering company, specialising in naval architecture, system integration and alternative fuel technologies. C-Job is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge designs that promote sustainability and efficiency in the maritime industry.