U.S. Pushing Small Modular Reactors For Commercial Shipping In Major Nuclear Maritime Push

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The U.S. government is pushing to develop small modular nuclear reactors for commercial shipping as regulators and industry officials explore nuclear-powered cargo vessels, ports and maritime logistics networks.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Maritime Administration, or MARAD, on May 7 announced an initiative to seek industry input on how SMRs could be integrated into commercial cargo fleets and broader maritime infrastructure.

MARAD said global competitors are already integrating nuclear propulsion into shipyards, ports and supply chains, potentially placing the U.S. at a strategic disadvantage without domestic SMR deployment, in a May 7 request for information seeking industry feedback on nuclear-powered shipping.

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MARAD said widespread adoption of nuclear-powered shipping will require advances in small modular reactor technology alongside government efforts to reduce regulatory uncertainty and create conditions that allow private operators to scale the technology commercially.

Russia already operates a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, while several reactor developers and maritime firms have explored commercial nuclear shipping concepts in recent years, according to the World Nuclear Association .