The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration have launched an initiative to develop Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping, as part of the Trump administration’s plan to revitalize American shipbuilding. The Maritime Administration’s Request for Information (RFI) aims to create a practical SMR model, emphasizing efficiency, affordability, national security, scalability, workforce development, and regulatory readiness. The NS Savannah remains the only U.S.-built nuclear-powered civilian vessel, launched in 1959. Kairos Energy and X-energy are leading U.S. efforts in SMR development, with X-energy partnering with Amazon and Energy Northwest for reactors expected in the early 2030s. Marad is collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Energy to gather input through public forums.
U.S. Launches Initiative for Nuclear-Powered Commercial Shipping
Aircraft carriers and submarines have been using it for years, so why not fuel merchant ships with nuclear power? The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration has launched an initiative to develop Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping.
“To successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” said Marad Administrator Stephen Carmel, in the release. “We are seeking critical insights on how the government can help reduce systemic uncertainty, align regulatory structures, and enable the market conditions necessary for private capital and operators to scale these groundbreaking technologies.”
Request for Information Seeks Practical SMR Development
The Maritime Administration (Marad)’s Request for Information (RFI) seeks to develop a practicable SMR as part of the Trump administration’s plans to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding.
Goals and Benefits of Nuclear-Powered Shipping
The RFI highlights a number of ways nuclear power would advance the maritime agenda:
- Efficiency: Deploying reliable, high-power energy to allow commercial ships to travel farther and faster
- Affordability: Small modular reactors that will largely eliminate fuel costs and reduce maintenance requirements
- National Security: Reinforcing American supply chains and securing energy independence to bolster national defense
- Scalability: Identifying streamlined deployment methods to integrate nuclear power across entire fleets and logistical networks
- Shipbuilding & Workforce: Integrating SMNR production into U.S. shipyards to build strong robust workforce pipelines and new credentialing standards
- Regulatory Readiness: Establishing liability, insurance, and inspection frameworks to ensure seamless port access before construction begins.
Industry and Government Collaboration
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said that innovative thinking is needed to secure the future of the American shipbuilding industry. “To secure this future for America’s shipbuilding industry, we need to innovate,” said Duffy. “By partnering with industry experts and outside-the-box thinkers to develop a strong SMR model, we will deliver a state-of-the-art energy source that cuts costs and bolsters national security.”
Marad is collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Energy, and plans to collect additional input through public workshops, listening sessions, and technical exchanges.
Current U.S. Nuclear Reactor Development
In the U.S., Kairos Energy is the only firm actively building an advanced small modular reactor, and it is constructing demonstration reactors in Tennessee. X-energy is planning reactors with partners such as Amazon and Energy Northwest in Washington state, with operations expected in the early 2030s.
Historical Context: The NS Savannah
The NS Savannah remains the only U.S. nuclear-powered civilian vessel. It was launched in 1959 under the Eisenhower administration’s postwar “Atoms for Peace” program, and is one of only four such ships ever built.
Source: FreightWaves
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
