Nuclear energy has been used in the past to power military submarines and icebreakers, although its use by merchant ships has been constrained partly by the cost, but also due wariness by insurers of providing cover for ships going into commercial ports without more understanding of the risks involved.
Small and mass-produced reactors, which are envisaged to be fitted onboard ships, are less powerful and consume less nuclear fuel than traditional nuclear sites. Fincantieri was "interested in following the evolution of these technologies which may result in significant contribution to the decarbonisation of ships related to our core business", which is cruise liners, naval ships and specialised vessels, the spokesperson added.
UK-based CORE POWER is separately looking to develop a prototype advanced molten salt nuclear reactor that uses liquid fuel instead of solid fuel.