Commercial shipping is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions (roughly 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year, about 3% of global emissions), reuters.com . To meet climate goals, the industry is exploring nuclear propulsion as a long-range, carbon-free power source. Unlike traditional ships that burn heavy fuel oil (releasing CO₂, SOₓ, NOₓ, and soot), a nuclear-powered vessel carries an onboard reactor that heats water into steam to drive its turbines. In effect, each nuclear ship is a floating power plant: its reactor core can operate for years without refueling, providing continuous electricity and thrust. This clean energy approach means virtually zero exhaust emissions at sea mdpi.com , which could dramatically cut shipping’s environmental footprint as we move toward the future of sustainable maritime transport. How Nuclear Propulsion Works Nuclear propulsion systems on ships work much like those on submarines and icebreakers. A compact atomic reactor aboard the ves...