(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) on Thursday launched an initiative to develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping. As a first step, MarAd is calling on innovators and industry stakeholders to help develop an SMR model that revitalizes U.S. shipbuilding, cuts costs, and secures energy dominance.
The request for information (RFI) is seeking input from industry and innovators to advance:
• 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 our national defense.
• Scalability: Identifying streamlined deployment methods to integrate nuclear power across entire fleets and logistical networks.
• Shipbuilding and workforce: Integrating SMR 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 successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” said MarAd Administrator Stephen Carmel. “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.”
To support the development of these SMRs, MarAd is collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Energy. MarAd will collect additional input through other forums, including public workshops, listening sessions, and technical exchanges.
Comments can be submitted here and are due no later than Aug. 5.
– U.S. Maritime Administration
