The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has released its “Maritime Barometer Report 2023-2024,” revealing that nearly a quarter (23%) of leaders in the shipping industry now consider nuclear energy to be the most viable future fuel technology. This marks a sharp increase from previous survey periods (2021-2022 and 2022-2023), where fewer than ten respondents identified nuclear power as the most promising clean energy solution. The report suggests that nuclear propulsion is gaining significant traction among industry leaders.
Text by Hiro Yamamoto
Photo courtesy of The International Chamber of Shipping
■ICS is the Leading Global Trade Association for the Shipping Industry
ICS represents shipowners and operators across all sectors and trades. Its membership is composed of national shipowners’ associations from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, with these member companies operating over 80% of the world’s merchant fleet by gross tonnage.
The latest report involved participation from C-suite global decision-makers in the shipping industry, of whom approximately 30% were shipowners and 26% were ship managers. The term “C-suite” refers to top-level executive positions such as CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), COO (Chief Operating Officer), and CIO (Chief Information Officer), who are responsible for the overall management of a company. These decision-makers provided insights into how they perceive challenges impacting their operations and their confidence in addressing them.
■ICS Report Highlights Key Trends in the Shipping Industry Over the Past Three Years
According to the ICS report, more than 100 global leaders in the shipping industry have shared their views on critical challenges over the past three years. The report highlights how concerns over energy security and fluctuations in oil prices have increased the appeal of vessels that require less frequent refueling—particularly those powered by nuclear energy. However, it also acknowledges that the necessary technologies are still under development, and there are significant social acceptance issues, as well as the need for updated regulations specific to the shipping industry.
CorePower, a UK-based company advancing nuclear propulsion systems, has welcomed this trend. In response to the ICS report, the company stated, “Nuclear power has the potential to revolutionize shipping through faster transit speeds, smaller fleets, and increased cargo capacity.”
The report also underscores major concerns, including the rise in geopolitical instability, the growing threat of physical and cyberattacks, changes in global and regional regulatory environments, and the lack of fuels and infrastructure necessary for decarbonization. Amid these challenges, the broad trend of growing interest in alternative fuels has contributed to the increased support for nuclear propulsion systems.
〆ICS は海運業界のリーダーのうち約２３％が原子力推進機関を支持しているとのレポートを発表した。
国際海運会議所（The International Chamber of Shipping 、ICS） が発表した「マリタイムバロメーターレポート 2023-2024」によると、最新のデータでは、海運業界のリーダーのうち約4分の1（23％）が原子力を将来の最も実現可能な燃料技術として挙げていることが分かった。過去、2つの調査期間（2021-2022年、2022-2023年）では、原子力エネルギーが最も有望なクリーンエネルギー解決策であると考える回答者は10人に満たない割合だったが、急速に増加していることを示している。
(Text by Hiro Yamamoto)
Photo courtesy= The International Chamber of Shipping
ICSは、海運業界の主要な国際貿易団体。すべての部門や取引での船主や運航者を代表している。ICSの会員は、アジア、ヨーロッパ、アメリカの各国船主協会で構成されており、これらの会員企業は世界の商船総トン数の80%以上を運航している。
今回のレポートは海運業界からC-suite（最高経営責任者レベル）のグローバルな意思決定者が参加し、そのうち約30%が船主、26%が船舶管理者だった。C-Suiteとは、CEO（最高経営責任者）、CFO（最高財務責任者）、COO（最高執行責任者）、CIO（最高情報責任者）など、「C」から始まる会社の経営を担当する役職者を表す。これらの意思決定者は、業務運営に影響を与える課題をどのように捉え、それに対処する自信についての見解を提供している。※続きは日本海事新聞で後日掲載される。https://www.jmd.co.jp/