MCST Working Paper 2025-007 – Is Nuclear Power Ship Propulsion an Option for Pacific Island Maritime Decarbonisation?

Globally there is increased interest in nuclear-powered shipping. Recent reports and papers respond to a strengthening lobby advocating for the commercial deployment of nuclear options for shipping in the context of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In the Pacific, there is a proposal to now deploy a nuclear-powered emergency response vessel in Fiji. This article discusses the global opportunities and barriers to nuclear shipping and assesses where these factors differ in a Pacific context. We conclude that there is no near- or short-term case to make for such deployment and considerable peer-reviewed research is needed specific to a Pacific domestic scenario if decision-makers are to make well-informed decisions in the longer term. Regardless of the technical readiness of this technology, any future role of this energy source will need to overcome substantive financial, technical, regulatory, liability, and political barriers before it could be considered a viable option for any Pacific Island State.