Nuclear ships: Russia and China pull ahead, Germany hesitates.
Russia is the only country operating a civilian fleet with nuclear reactors. Eight Rosatom nuclear icebreakers keep the Northern Sea Route open - a route that would otherwise be almost impassable in winter. Starting in early 2027, Moscow plans to launch regular year-round service to the East.
China is betting on civilian use. The state-owned Jiangnan shipyard is planning a 25,000 TEU container ship with a thorium molten salt reactor and a 40-year service life. The nuclear regulator has already approved production of major nuclear equipment. In 2025, Chinese shipyards accounted for about 63% of global shipbuilding orders.
Germany: caught between interest and fear.
German shipowners want to study nuclear power "without eyes", but they require reliable international rules and wide acceptance. The government is betting on methanol and bio-LNG, although it is not ruling out nuclear technology. The greens see it as too expensive and too risky - no company will insure these risks. Europe depends on Asian shipyards, and only the Dutch company Elsie is developing its own marine reactor - land trials in 2030, installation on ships from 2032.
You could say, Germany already had a nuclear ship - the Otto Hahn, starting in 1968 - but the reactor was shut down in 1979 because of costs and because ports refused to accept the ship.
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