## 1 Introduction  
Nuclear power has been a subject of interest in transportation, particularly maritime ships, since the early days of the nuclear era. However, the high cost of operation eliminated the interest in developing nuclear-powered vessels for many decades [1]. This situation has recently changed due to global decarbonization goals and the advent of innovative reactor technologies such as small modular reactors [2]. As a result, research and development efforts are increasingly focused on leveraging nuclear power for commercial vessels to transport goods [3]. The concept of nuclear-powered commercial (i.e., for propulsion and onboard energy supply) vessels is not new. The first commercial ship equipped with a nuclear reactor was launched in the 1960s, with a few others following in subsequent years [1]. However, for various reasons--primarily financial--these nuclear-powered commercial ships were decommissioned early, and this type of vessel did not gain the market traction initially anticipated. Despite their limited operational lifespan, these ships provided valuable lessons that remain relevant today [4]. Recently, interest in nuclear-powered ships has been rekindled, driven by global decarbonization goals [5]. As a result, the operational insights from those early vessels are once again in the spotlight and may shape the future development of nuclear maritime technology. In the time between the decommissioning of the first maritime nuclear ships and the present day, advancements in computing have been extraordinary. The world has embraced digitalization, with digital technologies becoming pervasive and an integral part of daily life [6]. Moreover, artificial intelligence has made significant strides, offering a wide range of capabilities for developing automated and autonomous systems. These systems have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives, enhancing safety and security while facilitating unrestricted access to numerous services and processes [7]. Given the widespread adoption of AI, it is anticipated that nuclear-powered ships will also benefit significantly from its applications. Intelligent systems are expected to provide advanced instrumentation for surveillance, monitoring, and decision-making to address the operational needs of these vessels [8]. AI is projected to reduce overall operational costs while enhancing both the safety of the ships and the security of the nuclear materials on board [9]. Notably, such technologies were unavailable during the operation of the first nuclear-powered ships [1]. Their integration now promises to deliver substantial advancements, paving the way for more efficient and secure nuclear maritime operations [4]. AI has long been employed in the nuclear industry at various levels, primarily to enhance operational efficiency and minimize the risk of human error. One of the earliest applications of AI in this field was the development of expert systems, which captured expert knowledge in the form of IF/THEN rules to support decision-making in operation, maintenance, and engineering within nuclear power plants [10]. More specifically, AI has been successfully applied to system monitoring, prognostics, and diagnostics through data-driven approaches [11]. It has also been instrumental in developing intelligent human-machine interfaces, digital twins for nuclear power plant systems, and control and instrumentation systems for nuclear plant components [12; 13]. Furthermore, AI-powered safety systems have been designed for forecasting power and heat profiles, identifying two-phase flow regimes, and analyzing thermal behavior [14]. In recent years, AI has played a critical role in cybersecurity within nuclear facilities, particularly in identifying and securing critical digital assets [15]. Additionally, AI has been leveraged for advanced data analytics in radiation spectroscopy, contributing to nuclear nonproliferation [16], radiation protection and shielding [17], and radiation applications in healthcare [18; 19].