Core Power announced it has signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Research Institute to study market conditions for a maritime civil nuclear programme in Japan. The UK-based company is also nearing completion of its Series B funding round of USD500 million.

The first of two RITM-200 reactors has been brought to a minimum controlled power level on the Yakutia nuclear icebreaker.

France's Naarea has entered into a strategic partnership with EO Concept to explore the use of Naarea's XAMR molten salt fast neutron microreactor for the production of hydrogen and/or low-carbon electrofuels, particularly for heavy maritime applications.

Dutch nuclear energy development and consultancy company ULC-Energy BV has completed a study - supported by C-Job Naval Architects - analysing the design and economic implications of using civil nuclear reactor technology to power a Newcastlemax bulk carrier.

The UK's Royal Navy is exploring the use of nuclear propulsion for large surface ships, with the Ministry of Defence issuing a Request for Information seeking insights from the defence industry on the feasibility of adding Generation-IV nuclear reactors to its current and future fleet of ships.

Rosatom has said that its work to resolve nuclear legacy issues in Russia's Far East has been successful, including the dismantling of dozens of decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines.

A joint development project agreement has been signed between Lloyd's Register, Core Power and AP Moller - Maersk to conduct a regulatory assessment study to determine the safety and regulatory considerations for a potential nuclear-propelled containership to undertake cargo operations at a port in Europe.

The American Bureau of Shipping and the Korea Ship & Offshore Plant Research Institute are collaborating to advance the commercialisation of small modular reactor-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms.

South Korea's Mokpo National University has opened the world's first SMR Ship Research Institute, aiming to develop a global hub for SMR ship research and education. The move comes as Lloyd's Register says the rise of small modular reactors points to a step change for nuclear applications in shipping if regulatory hurdles can be overcome.