Key Takeaways 

• Deployment is now the focus. Discussions centered on the practical steps required to accelerate delivery, including regulation, industrial capability, public engagement and international cooperation. 

• Energy and shipping are converging. Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs) and nuclear propulsion were discussed as complementary solutions to growing energy demand, decarbonization pressures and competitiveness challenges. 

• Collaboration will drive progress. Speakers from industry, government, regulatory bodies and international organizations repeatedly highlighted the importance of working together to establish the frameworks needed for future deployment. 

  
  

CORE POWER's European Summit brought together leaders from the maritime, nuclear, regulatory and policy communities to examine the future of nuclear technologies in energy generation and shipping. 

Across a full day of keynote addresses, panel discussions and audience Q&A, participants explored the opportunities and challenges associated with deploying FNPPs and nuclear-powered vessels at commercial scale. While perspectives varied, several common themes emerged throughout the discussions: growing demand for reliable clean energy, increasing interest in nuclear propulsion, the importance of international cooperation, and the need to establish the frameworks necessary to support future deployment. 

Opening the summit, Mikal Bøe, Founder and CEO of CORE POWER, focused on the transition from ambition to implementation. His keynote explored the role advanced nuclear technologies could play in addressing rising energy demand, supporting economic growth and strengthening energy security. He highlighted the growing need for dependable low-carbon power and argued that maritime nuclear offers an opportunity to rethink how nuclear projects are delivered. Mikal also announced during his speech the launch of CORE POWER’s feasibility study with BWXT, the goal of which will be to assess the technical, regulatory and commercial pathways for potentially integrating BWXT’s mPower™ SMR technology into FNPPs that are built in and deployed from shipyards. 

The session also introduced themes that would recur throughout the day, including industrial competitiveness, international collaboration and the need to create the conditions necessary for large-scale deployment. 

The role of international regulation was a major focus of the summit, led by Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

Dominguez discussed the IMO's role in enabling innovation while maintaining high standards of safety, security and environmental protection. Audience questions explored how regulatory frameworks might evolve to support commercial deployment of maritime nuclear technologies and how organizations such as the IMO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can work together to address emerging challenges.  

The discussion highlighted both the complexity and importance of international cooperation in establishing future regulatory pathways. This message was also highlighted by a video message from Keir Mather MP, UK Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonization. 

The Ship-based Nuclear Power – a Dual Use Case panel explored the potential for FNPPs to provide reliable electricity to ports, coastal communities and industry, alongside the application of nuclear propulsion within commercial shipping. 

Drawing on decades of experience with naval nuclear propulsion, Admiral Richardson reflected on the operational history of nuclear-powered vessels and the lessons that could inform future commercial applications. Anne-Marie Trevelyan highlighted the strategic importance of maritime nuclear in the context of energy security, international trade and long-standing UK-US cooperation. The session demonstrated how energy generation and shipping are increasingly being viewed as interconnected opportunities within the maritime nuclear sector. 

Questions surrounding public confidence and regulatory trust were addressed in the Safety Case and Public Trust panel, which explored how advances in reactor technology and safety systems have transformed the nuclear sector and discussed the importance of communicating those developments clearly to wider audiences. 

Audience discussion focused heavily on public engagement and the role industry must play in building trust. Panelists emphasized the importance of early communication and stakeholder engagement, highlighting that public understanding will be a critical component of successful deployment. The session reinforced the view that technical progress and public confidence must develop in parallel. 

The discussion then turned to Building the Industrial Ecosystem, led by Morgan Fanberg of Glosten and moderated by CORE POWER’s Rob Chaplin. Their session explored the central role shipyards could play in enabling future deployment of maritime nuclear technologies. Speakers discussed the opportunities presented by repeatable manufacturing processes, advanced shipbuilding techniques and international industrial collaboration. 

The conversation highlighted how maritime nuclear differs from traditional nuclear projects, offering the potential for greater standardization and serial production within established industrial environments. 

In his Fuel Supply and Infrastructure Readiness keynote, Per Jander of the WMC examined the growing pressures facing global nuclear fuel supply chains. His presentation explored uranium logistics, transportation networks and the infrastructure required to support an expanding global nuclear sector. Attention was given to the role maritime transport could play in strengthening resilience across the fuel cycle and supporting future deployment of maritime nuclear technologies. 

The discussion highlighted the importance of considering the wider ecosystem needed to support long-term industry growth. 

During the panel focused on Floating Nuclear Power Plants and Future Energy Demand, the speakers discussed growing demand for reliable, dispatchable clean energy and considered where floating nuclear technologies may be best positioned to support future energy systems. 

The conversation examined potential applications across ports, industrial facilities and coastal regions, as well as the policy, regulatory and commercial conditions needed to support future market development. Discussions reflected the growing interest in the role FNPPs could play in supporting energy security and industrial growth. 

The role of Civil Maritime Nuclear Propulsion was examined by Charlotte Vere, who delivered the keynote and moderated a panel featuring Dr Spyros Hirdaris (ABS), Ian Truman (Burges Salmon), Kimberly Sexton Nick (OECD Nuclear Energy Agency) and Patrick Ryan (UK P&I Club). 

The session explored how nuclear propulsion could influence vessel operations, competitiveness and long-term commercial performance. 

Alongside emissions reduction, discussions covered vessel endurance, route flexibility, operational certainty and the broader implications of introducing nuclear-powered vessels into commercial markets. The discussion highlighted the range of technical, commercial and regulatory considerations that will shape future adoption. 

The final session, Enabling Nuclear Powered Feeder Ships, focused on enabling commercial deployment and practical implementation and featured Richard Freston of Lloyd's Register, Renate Westerndorff and Françoise van den Brink (Port of Rotterdam), Scott Edwards and Tobi Menzies (CORE POWER). 

Drawing on the findings of the Port of Rotterdam case study, panelists discussed regulatory readiness, port infrastructure, emergency preparedness, insurance considerations and public engagement. 

Audience questions reflected growing interest in moving from feasibility studies towards commercial deployment and highlighted the range of stakeholders that will need to work together to support future operations. The discussion provided a useful overview of the practical challenges and opportunities associated with enabling nuclear-powered commercial vessels. 

While the summit covered a wide range of topics, several themes consistently emerged throughout the program. Speakers discussed growing demand for reliable clean energy, increasing interest in maritime nuclear applications and the importance of international collaboration in supporting future deployment. 

The event also highlighted the interconnected nature of the challenge. Progress will require engagement from regulators, industry, governments, investors, shipowners, ports and local communities. 

Throughout the day, discussions reflected the breadth of activity already underway across the maritime and nuclear sectors, and the growing level of engagement between stakeholders exploring the future of nuclear energy generation and shipping. 

Full recordings of the summit sessions will be released on the CORE POWER YouTube channel in the coming weeks.