The Pink Corridor project will focus on the security and safeguards considerations needed to inform future regulation and support the safe, secure and responsible adoption of nuclear power for commercial shipping between the Port of Charleston in South Carolina and the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, England. Centred on a conceptual nuclear-powered container ship, the partners will examine the requirements for theoretical port access on the specified route. Key areas of focus will include ship security, safeguards, cyber resilience, emergency response, insurance regimes and alignment between maritime and nuclear regulatory expectations.
The work is expected to support broader maritime development under the US-UK Technology Prosperity Deal and its bilateral commitment to explore civil maritime nuclear applications, including the potential creation of a shipping corridor between the two countries.
Lloyd’s Register said the Pink Corridor project aims to provide a structured basis for collaboration, helping stakeholders understand the practical requirements, gaps and future work needed before any potential nuclear maritime corridor could be considered.
The outcomes of the initial phase of the Pink Corridor project will inform the scope of a potential second phase, including areas requiring further study across engineering, regulatory, legislative, security and safeguards frameworks for nuclear merchant ships.
“The Pink Corridor joint development programme is an important step for the application of nuclear technology in merchant shipping,” said Nick Gross, Global Containerships Segment Director at 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.”
Adam Ramsey, Commercial Director of the Port of Felixstowe, added: “As the UK’s largest and busiest container port, the Port of Felixstowe is well-positioned to support the Pink Corridor and contribute practical insight to this important early-stage work. 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.”
“As a major US East Coast port, Charleston is always looking for innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable ways to move freight,” said Tom Boyle, SC Ports’ Director of Vessel Operations and Carrier Sales. “The conceptual Pink Corridor project allows for the study of the possibility of a nuclear-powered maritime corridor.”
The collaboration builds on an earlier study by Core Power, Maersk, Lloyd’s Register and the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands which examined the safety, operational and regulatory considerations associated with a nuclear-powered container ship calling at a European Union port. Released in June, the study found that “the principal barriers to nuclear ship port calls are not technical, but relate instead to local and international regulatory alignment, governance, risk management integration and public acceptance”.
The shipping industry consumes about 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for about 3% of total worldwide carbon emissions. In July 2024, the shipping industry, via the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approved new targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by, or around, 2050.
In July 2024, Lloyd’s Register released a report that concluded nuclear power could transform the maritime industry with emissions-free shipping, whilst extending the life cycle of vessels and removing the uncertainty of fuel and refuelling infrastructure development. However, it said regulation and safety considerations must be addressed for its widespread commercial adoption.
There are a range of different development projects for using nuclear power in civilian vessels. The IMO is also revising the Safety Code for Nuclear Ships and the International Atomic Energy Agency launched its Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative last week, which “aims to support the maritime industry’s exploration of small modular reactors to power civilian ships and to provide offshore energy, as operators consider alternative fuels and seek to strengthen long-term energy security.”
