Industry experts at LISW25 warn: “No nuclear, no net zero” for shipping’s decarbonisation goals

10 October 2025 | London — Industry leaders at London International Shipping Week (LISW25) have warned that nuclear energy must be considered if the maritime sector is to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

At a roundtable hosted by the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), experts debated whether nuclear propulsion could serve as the “missing piece” in shipping’s decarbonisation pathway. The discussion revealed a shared concern that without state support, private investors would be unwilling to shoulder the financial and technological risks of nuclear adoption.

“The private sector does not like technology risks or long lead times, and overcoming those doubts will take significant effort,” the panel stated. “Governments must underwrite nuclear as a green fuel, otherwise the investment simply won’t come.”

“Shipping will be competing for carbon-free molecules”

Highlighting the scale of the industry’s challenge, one panellist noted that only 0.4% of fuel used in global shipping currently comes from alternative sources.

“The latest figures show that just 0.4% of fuel used in shipping is alternative fuel in total, how do we go from that? Shipping will be competing with every sector for all the carbon-free molecules. Nuclear can provide all the energy we need. I don’t see any other way.”

Other participants warned that the sector is “buying time rather than delivering transformation,” arguing that current progress toward decarbonisation is insufficient. While some described nuclear as shipping’s “only chance” to meet its climate objectives, others pointed to public perception and regulatory hurdles as significant barriers.

Experts call for coordinated government and industry action

The event brought together leading figures from across the maritime and finance sectors, including Dr. Martin Stopford, maritime economist; Capt. Savraj Mehta, Chief Commercial Officer, NorthStandard; Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman, Indian Register of Shipping; Gihan Ismail, Director, Marine Capital; and Anouskha Bachraz, Director, Transportation Advisory, Société Générale. The session was moderated by Martin White, CEO of Stream Marine.

The debate concluded with a strong message: while nuclear propulsion remains a contentious option, achieving net zero without it may prove impossible unless governments, regulators, and private stakeholders act collectively to de-risk investment and accelerate development.