There actually is some consideration for nuclear powered tankers for this exact purpose, along with the fact that refueling would not be much of an issue, there’s less need to stop. Iirc China has done a small amount of work on this concept a few years ago but I don’t habe anything saved unfortunately.
The largest issues that were being discussed actually didn’t habe to do with geopolitics, but the economic feasibility of it. Even if they were to be more efficient, oil isn’t at a price where nuclear tankers are economically superior.
The other issue was in regards to environmental concerns I case a tanker happened to sink, but honestly that same issue applies to oil, and nuclear material in the ocean is honestly less dangerous then oil when it comes to a habitat, though the danger would likely come from tracking decay material moving along with a current, which could contaminate food.
Geopolitics would probably become a concern if a suitable design was finished, because then it would no longer be a theoretical concept but an actual practical technology. I’d imagine different countries, especially the US, would oppose other countries using it while Fearing that if a ship gotten taken due to piracy (or stopping a genocide perhaps) it would then give the ones apprehending the ships a nuclear reactor, nuclear fuel, nuclear decay and products.
Though I could imagine China building a few at some point if they can streamline its production and oil prices surge for a considerable amount of time (like if the US invaded Iran). The technology isn’t exactly in its infancy, considering air craft carriers and submarines use the same nuclear power process, it’s political/economic will.
Great info, thanks! I read about a few prototypes and proposals for nuclear powered cargo ships but i think the general inertia of diesel based shipping as an industry is just too big for the time being, so we’re still a ways away from that. But yeah i could see shipping becoming the cleanest and most efficient option in the future, as it was historically for a very long time.
There actually is some consideration for nuclear powered tankers for this exact purpose, along with the fact that refueling would not be much of an issue, there’s less need to stop. Iirc China has done a small amount of work on this concept a few years ago but I don’t habe anything saved unfortunately.
The largest issues that were being discussed actually didn’t habe to do with geopolitics, but the economic feasibility of it. Even if they were to be more efficient, oil isn’t at a price where nuclear tankers are economically superior.
The other issue was in regards to environmental concerns I case a tanker happened to sink, but honestly that same issue applies to oil, and nuclear material in the ocean is honestly less dangerous then oil when it comes to a habitat, though the danger would likely come from tracking decay material moving along with a current, which could contaminate food.
Geopolitics would probably become a concern if a suitable design was finished, because then it would no longer be a theoretical concept but an actual practical technology. I’d imagine different countries, especially the US, would oppose other countries using it while Fearing that if a ship gotten taken due to piracy (or stopping a genocide perhaps) it would then give the ones apprehending the ships a nuclear reactor, nuclear fuel, nuclear decay and products.
Though I could imagine China building a few at some point if they can streamline its production and oil prices surge for a considerable amount of time (like if the US invaded Iran). The technology isn’t exactly in its infancy, considering air craft carriers and submarines use the same nuclear power process, it’s political/economic will.
Great info, thanks! I read about a few prototypes and proposals for nuclear powered cargo ships but i think the general inertia of diesel based shipping as an industry is just too big for the time being, so we’re still a ways away from that. But yeah i could see shipping becoming the cleanest and most efficient option in the future, as it was historically for a very long time.