At a nuclear power plant that would mean they would have to refuel 10 times to make it 15 years (on a normal 18 month refuel schedule). That is a lot of "new" nuclear material to store, but more importantly what do they do with the spent fuel? Dump it in the ocean? Power plants have dry cask storage - huge concrete casks that still glow on the thermal cameras at night even after encased in all that concrete.

I wasn't Navy (actually Air Force) but worked nuclear as a civilian, from plants to the NRC itself. I would think that material would have to be offloaded when it is spent, although I'm sure it could be put on another ship for storage on land. I'm honestly curious - any ideas?

At a nuclear power plant that would bean they would have to refuel 10 times to make it 15 years (on a normal 18 month refuel schedule). That is a lot of "new" nuclear material to store, but more importantly what do they do with the spent fuel? Dump it in the ocean? Power plants have dry cask storage - huge concrete casks that still glow on the thermal cameras at night even after encased in all that concrete.

I wasn't Navy (actually Air Force) but worked nuclear as a civilian, from plants to the NRC itself. I would think that material would have to be offloaded when it is spent, although I'm sure it could be put on another ship for storage on land. I'm honestly curious - any ideas?