Or Nuclear Propulsion:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_marine_propulsion#Merc...
> Nuclear ships are currently the responsibility of their own countries, but none are involved in international trade. As a result of this work in 2014 two papers on commercial nuclear marine propulsion were published by Lloyd's Register and the other members of this consortium.... > This is a small fast-neutron reactor using lead–bismuth eutectic cooling and able to operate for ten full-power years before refueling, and in service last for a 25-year operational life of the vessel. They conclude that the concept is feasible, but further maturity of nuclear technology and the development and harmonisation of the regulatory framework would be necessary before the concept would be viable.
> In December 2023, the Jiangnan Shipyard under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation officially released a design of a 24000 TEU-class container ship — known as the KUN-24AP — at Marintec China 2023, a premier maritime industry exhibition held in Shanghai. The container ship is reported to be powered by a thorium-based molten salt reactor, making it a first thorium-powered container ship and, if completed, the largest nuclear-powered container ship in the world.
Nuclear ships are technically possible, but have a massive number of downsides.
- The construction cost would be significantly higher than a conventional ship.
- Reactors are far from trivial, so you'd double or triple the crew required.
- Shipbreaking would become even more of an issue than it already is. You can't just beach a ship like this in Bangladesh and have a bunch of untrained people attack it with plasma cutters.
- The ship would be a huge target for pirates and terrorists. It's essentially a floating dirty bomb, after all, just waiting for the USS Cole treatment.
- A lot of countries would not accept nuclear ships, both due to perceived security risks and for more ideological reasons.
... and that's probably only the tip of the iceberg.
Nuclear is barely economically viable with land-based large-scale nuclear power plants running for 50+ years. They are an attractive option for some military ships, but I doubt anyone would be willing to risk it for regular commercial shipping.
> They are an attractive option for some military ships, but I doubt anyone would be willing to risk it for regular commercial shipping.
There's been a few built over the years, mostly for research.
Russia apparently still operates one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevmorput
Despite hurtles you've pointed to it is still being considered:
https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/news-research...
> This source of power confers some advantages. "You will have ships going maybe 50% faster because the fuel is essentially free once you have made the upfront capex investment," Sohmen-Pao said.
You achieve ~0 emissions AND avoid increasing transit time going with pure sailing ships.