LR partners with Microsoft to use AI for advancing nuclear power in maritime

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has revealed plans to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the regulatory process for nuclear power in the maritime industry.

To this end, LR partnered with technology conglomerate Microsoft to use Azure OpenAI Service to bridge the gap between terrestrial and maritime applications of nuclear technology.

LR intends to become one of the first maritime organizations to use generative AI to enhance the regulatory process and advance the deployment of nuclear in maritime applications.

According to LR’s “Fuel for Thought: Nuclear report” released in 2024, nuclear power could transform the maritime industry with emissions-free shipping, whilst extending the life cycle of vessels and removing the uncertainty of fuel and refuelling infrastructure development but regulation and safety considerations must be addressed for its widespread commercial adoption.

As explained, Azure’s generative AI capabilities work by analyzing historic nuclear licensing data and allows licensing engineers to draft new permitting documents more quickly, ready for review and refinement. It can also search for regulations, precedents, and other valuable information in large regulatory datasets. 

The technology is expected to enable a faster and more cost-effective pathway through regulation, which is essential for making nuclear a viable clean energy solution. 

Mark Tipping, LR’s Global Offshore Power To X Director, said: “We have a large data source from decades of regulatory applications which these AI capabilities can interrogate swiftly to identify good practice and lessons learned. Together, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in deploying nuclear technology, which is navigating complex, slow, and costly licensing processes.

“Collaborating with Microsoft provides us with an excellent opportunity to combine two very different areas of expertise, their AI capabilities and our vast history and knowledge of maritime and nuclear safety.”

LR’s collaboration with Microsoft comes amid growing interest in nuclear technology among maritime players.

Just recently, the classification society, together with technology company CORE POWER and marine insurance provider NorthStandard, published a report that sets out a policy framework for the UK government to support the deployment of advanced small nuclear reactors on commercial ships and floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), arguing that the Department for Transport should include nuclear-powered shipping and FNPPs in an updated Clean Maritime Plan (CMP) and long-term nuclear strategy.

LR is also one of the inaugural members of the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO) launched in 2024.