Trump wants shipping to go nuclear

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.

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. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy in a release said that innovative thinking is needed to secure the future of the American shipbuilding industry.

“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.” 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. 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. MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel in the release re-emphasized a core tenet of the the administration’s Maritime Action Plan, that the U. S.

sector must establish a new “system of systems”, with nuclear power serving as a transition agent in the process. “To successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” Carmel said.

“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.”

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. “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. Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.