Rising oil prices and fuel inefficiency are pushing the US navy towards serious consideration of using nuclear-powered vessels for its fleet.

The House of Representatives has recently passed a bill that allows many more ships in the US navy to be nuclear powered, including amphibious assault vessels that carry troops into combat.

According to a recent report by the US Defense Science Board task force on energy strategy, More Fight, Less Fuel, the electronics and radar systems that naval vessels need to carry are not energy efficient. The rising demand for a reliable power source for these and other systems during combat is focusing attention on nuclear generation.

The advantages are many, say supporters. Rising oil prices mean that nuclear power is fast becoming economically viable. Nuclear-powered vessels can also avoid regular refuelling – often in potentially unfriendly ports, which can be a risky business. Nuclear power also reduces CO₂ emission from vessels, point out proponents.

Republican proponent of the idea, Representative Roscoe Bartlett, said in a statement last month “Nuclear propulsion for large naval combatants is the right choice. It offers greater power and unparalleled safety and operational endurance without the vulnerabilities of fossil fuel refuelling.”

Critics, however, argue that nuclear-powered assault vessels pose a significant risk to the environment during construction and combat.

“Any fires in combat will easily release radioactivity into the environment. And from a terrorist's point of view a nuclear vessel will be a much more interesting target than a conventional ship,” comments Nils Bøhmer of Norwegian environmental foundation Bellona in an article in New Scientist.

For further information:
www.newscientist.com
bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=91472
www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2008-02-ESTF.pdf
www.bellona.org