Lloyd’s Register Partners with Microsoft to Use AI for Nuclear Power Regulation in Maritime Industry

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has announced plans to utilize generative artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the regulatory process for nuclear power in the maritime industry. Teaming up with technology giant Microsoft, LR will leverage Azure OpenAI Service to bridge the gap between terrestrial and maritime applications of nuclear technology. By becoming one of the first maritime organizations to implement generative AI, LR aims to enhance the regulatory process and facilitate the deployment of nuclear power in maritime settings.

LR’s collaboration with Microsoft is a significant step towards advancing the use of nuclear power in the maritime sector. The partnership will enable the rapid analysis of historic nuclear licensing data, allowing licensing engineers to draft new permitting documents efficiently for review and refinement. This innovative technology is expected to provide a faster and more cost-effective pathway through regulation, crucial for establishing nuclear energy as a viable clean energy solution in the maritime industry.

Mark Tipping, LR’s Global Offshore Power To X Director, emphasized the importance of leveraging AI capabilities to navigate the complex, slow, and costly licensing processes associated with deploying nuclear technology. By tapping into decades of regulatory applications data, LR and Microsoft aim to identify best practices and lessons learned swiftly. The collaboration between LR and Microsoft signifies a merging of expertise in AI capabilities and extensive knowledge of maritime and nuclear safety, paving the way for significant advancements in the adoption of nuclear technology in maritime applications.

LR’s collaboration with Microsoft comes at a time of increased interest in nuclear technology within the maritime sector. Recently, LR, along with technology company CORE POWER and marine insurance provider NorthStandard, proposed a policy framework to the UK government supporting the deployment of advanced small nuclear reactors on commercial ships and floating nuclear power plants. LR is also a founding member of the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO), established in 2024 to further promote the integration of nuclear technology in maritime operations.

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