Lloyd’s Register, A.P. Moller-Maersk, and two major container ports are joining forces to explore what it would take to operate a nuclear-powered container ship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
This project, called the “Pink Corridor,” involves Lloyd’s Register, Maersk, South Carolina Ports, and the Port of Felixstowe to study a potential nuclear-powered shipping route between Charleston and Felixstowe.
The goal of the project is not to launch a nuclear-powered container ship right away. Instead, it will focus on the necessary regulatory and operational groundwork that needs to be done before such a service can start.
Using a conceptual nuclear-powered container ship as a basis, the study will look at various factors including access to ports, vessel security, nuclear safety measures, cyber resilience, emergency response, insurance, and the challenge of harmonizing maritime regulations with nuclear regulations.
Nick Gross, the Global Containerships Segment Director at Lloyd’s Register, mentioned, “The Pink Corridor joint development program is an important step for using nuclear technology in commercial shipping.”
He added, “By adopting a practical and collaborative approach, the project will examine the necessary security and safeguards for safe operations. This partnership brings together leaders in shipping, ports, and classification, showing the growing interest in nuclear technology for more sustainable maritime operations.”
This initiative also aligns with ongoing efforts by the U.S. and U.K. to explore civilian uses of nuclear technology in maritime contexts. Lloyd’s Register noted that this work is expected to support maritime development under the U.S.-U.K. Technology Prosperity Deal, which aims to explore civil maritime nuclear applications and the potential creation of a shipping corridor between the two nations.
Tom Boyle, SC Ports’ Director of Vessel Operations and Carrier Sales, commented, “As a major port on the U.S. East Coast, Charleston is always looking for innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable methods for moving freight. The conceptual Pink Corridor project allows us to examine the possibility of a nuclear-powered maritime corridor.”
Interest in commercial nuclear propulsion has been increasing after decades of being mainly confined to naval ships and icebreakers.
The Trump Administration has included maritime nuclear technology in its broader strategy to enhance U.S. maritime capabilities. Recently, the U.S. Maritime Administration signed an agreement with nuclear technology developer CORE POWER to explore nuclear-powered commercial shipping under the U.S. flag.
The MARAD-CORE POWER agreement aims to address many of the same challenges as the Pink Corridor, such as gaining regulatory approval, managing port operations, crew training, nuclear fuel services, insurance, and financing. This followed earlier agreements with the ports of Long Beach and Corpus Christi to investigate small modular reactors and other maritime nuclear options.
Maritime Administrator Stephen Carmel stated, “President Trump has made it clear that American energy dominance and maritime strength go hand in hand. Nuclear propulsion represents a significant commercial opportunity, but it must be approached as a complete system—safe, secure, licensed, and viable for investment.”
Nuclear propulsion could give commercial ships much longer endurance and eliminate carbon emissions from onboard fuel use, but notable challenges still exist.
Unlike traditional marine fuels, nuclear propulsion combines two highly regulated sectors that have different international rules and oversight systems. Issues regarding reactor licensing, nuclear liability, insurance, crew qualifications, security, waste management, and whether ports would permit nuclear-powered merchant vessels to dock remain unresolved.
Currently, there is no comprehensive international regulatory framework for nuclear-powered commercial ships.
Lloyd’s Register is working to bridge this gap. Last year, the classification society published what it claims is the maritime industry's first detailed framework for integrating nuclear technology into commercial shipping and offshore operations.
The Pink Corridor builds on a 2024 regulatory assessment conducted by Lloyd’s Register and CORE POWER, which was later formalized with Maersk through a joint development project focusing on the safety, operations, and regulatory requirements for advanced nuclear-powered container shipping.
For now, the route from Charleston to Felixstowe remains purely conceptual.
The first phase will identify what is needed to make this corridor viable. These findings could lead to a second phase that looks more closely at engineering, regulatory, legislative, security, and nuclear safety issues.
The involvement of Maersk, two major container ports, and one of the world’s leading classification societies shows that nuclear propulsion is moving from a theoretical discussion to serious consideration in the commercial shipping industry.