Shipping industry leaders at London International Shipping Week (LISW25) have sounded a stark warning: without nuclear energy, the sector may struggle to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 net zero targets.

At a packed roundtable hosted by Indian Register of Shipping, experts debated whether nuclear propulsion could be the missing piece in maritime decarbonisation. The panel stressed that government support is crucial. “The private sector does not like technology risks or long lead times. Overcoming these doubts will take significant effort,” they said. “Governments must underwrite nuclear as a green fuel, otherwise the investment simply won’t come.”

Panelists highlighted the scale of the challenge. Only 0.4% of shipping fuel currently comes from alternative sources. With competition for carbon-free fuels rising across all sectors, nuclear could provide the energy shipping needs. “I don’t see any other way,” one expert stated.

Some panelists described nuclear as shipping’s “only chance” to achieve net zero. Others warned that public suspicion around nuclear energy remains a major hurdle. The discussion concluded with a clear message: a coordinated push from regulators, investors, and the industry is essential, or shipping’s decarbonisation pathway may remain uncertain.

Speakers included maritime economist Dr. Martin Stopford; Capt. Savraj Mehta, Chief Commercial Officer at NorthStandard; Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman of Indian Register of Shipping; Gihan Ismail, Director at Marine Capital; and Anouskha Bachraz, Director of Transportation Advisory at Societe Generale. Martin White, CEO of Stream Marine, moderated the session.

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