Virginia Crosbie with Energy Minister Michael Shanks

• UPDATE: Since the original publication of this story the UK Government has clarified that its comments should not be taken as a commitment
• Comments were made at an industry roundtable in Vienna on Tuesday during the IAEA General Conference
• DESNZ, DfT, regulators, and NEMO to explore a coordinated UK approach
• Minister challenges the sector to return with practical steps and better public communication
• Follows NEMO's first nuclear shipping conference in London last week

The UK government has agreed to bring departments, regulators, and industry together to explore a coordinated maritime nuclear strategy, according to the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO).

The industry body said in an emailed media release that the commitment came from energy minister Michael Shanks at an industry roundtable held on Tuesday at the UK ambassador's residence in Vienna, on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 70th General Conference.

NEMO chief executive Virginia Crosbie asked Shanks whether he would convene the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Transport, regulators, and industry with NEMO to develop a UK strategy for nuclear power at sea.

The minister was said to have welcomed the proposal and committed to bringing the two departments, other relevant government bodies, and NEMO together to explore how such a strategy could be taken forward.

He also said an effective partnership must work both ways, and challenged the sector to return with clear proposals, including practical steps government and industry could take together and better communication with the public about the benefits of nuclear energy, NEMO said.

"The UK has the nuclear expertise, maritime heritage, respected regulators and world-leading professional services needed to become a global centre for maritime nuclear," said Crosbie.

"NEMO welcomes the Minister's commitment to bring the relevant partners together, and we accept his challenge to return with clear, practical proposals for action."

The roundtable comes six days after NEMO and the Nuclear Institute held their first nuclear shipping conference at Trinity House in London, where Crosbie argued that the technology and capital for nuclear-powered ships already exist and that the missing piece is a coherent regulatory, legal, insurance, and commercial framework.

NEMO is attending the Vienna conference as part of the UK delegation, alongside government departments, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and an industry group that includes CORE POWER, Rolls-Royce SMR, X-energy, and Urenco.

Crosbie is due to present on the UK's opportunity in nuclear-powered shipping and floating nuclear power on the UK national stand at the conference on Wednesday.