India and the United States have reviewed the progress of bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and discussed ways to strengthen the partnership as an international initiative on nuclear applications at sea was launched in Washington. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty met United States Energy Secretary Christopher Wright ahead of the opening of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ATLAS programme on Wednesday.
ATLAS, short for Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea, is designed to support the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear power in civilian shipping and floating nuclear power plants. The programme brings the nuclear and maritime sectors together to examine the technical, legal, regulatory, safety and safeguards questions that must be addressed before such systems can be deployed more widely.
The two-day launch event in Washington brought together around 600 participants from more than 50 countries, along with international organisations, industry representatives, maritime specialists and port authorities. The scale of participation reflects growing international interest in small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear technologies that could provide long-duration power for civilian vessels and offshore energy facilities.
India was among 25 countries that supported a joint statement associated with the launch. The participating countries emphasised cooperation between nuclear and maritime institutions and backed work on common approaches to safety, security, non-proliferation and safeguards. The initiative is technology-neutral and does not endorse a particular reactor design or commercial vendor.
Small modular reactors are being examined for maritime use because their high energy density could allow ships to operate for long periods without frequent refuelling. Floating nuclear power plants could also supply electricity and heat to coastal communities, remote locations and industry. These possibilities remain at an early stage and will require reliable regulation, emergency planning, security arrangements and clarity over responsibilities across jurisdictions.
The IAEA is expected to use ATLAS to convene governments, regulators, ship operators, port authorities, insurers, classification societies and nuclear developers. A steering committee and specialised project groups are proposed to take up individual technical and policy issues. The objective is to create a structured international forum before different national projects advance along incompatible regulatory paths.
For India, the Washington engagement adds an emerging technology dimension to a civil nuclear relationship that already covers energy, research, safety and strategic cooperation. The meeting between Mohanty and Wright provided an opportunity to assess bilateral work while placing India within a wider discussion on the future of nuclear-powered civilian shipping and offshore energy.
The maritime sector carries the overwhelming majority of global trade and faces pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining reliable long-distance transport. Nuclear propulsion is one option under examination, but deployment will depend on public confidence, economic viability and stringent international safeguards. ATLAS is intended to organise that discussion without prejudging the technologies that countries may eventually choose.
India and the United States did not announce a new bilateral agreement after the meeting. Their discussions nevertheless signal continued engagement on civil nuclear issues and participation in the rule-making conversations likely to shape new nuclear applications. The next phase will depend on the work programme adopted by ATLAS and the specific areas in which participating states decide to contribute.
