WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Transportation Department is seeking industry proposals for deploying small modular nuclear reactors in commercial shipping as the Trump administration pushes to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity, reduce maritime fuel dependence, and expand U.S. energy infrastructure.
The Maritime Administration, or MARAD, released a request for information seeking input from shipbuilders, nuclear developers, operators, and other industry stakeholders on how nuclear-powered commercial fleets could be developed and scaled in the United States.
The initiative focuses on the potential use of small modular reactors, known as SMRs, to power commercial vessels with longer operating ranges and reduced fuel consumption.
Federal officials also framed the effort as part of a broader industrial and national security strategy tied to domestic manufacturing, maritime logistics, and energy independence.
The request seeks industry feedback on reactor deployment, shipyard integration, workforce development, regulatory oversight, insurance frameworks, and fleet-scale implementation.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. is reclaiming its rightful place as a global sea power,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement announcing the initiative.
MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel said the agency is evaluating the effort as a broader transportation and industrial transition rather than solely a technology deployment project.
“To successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” Carmel said.
The administration indicated the initiative aligns with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump related to domestic energy production and maritime expansion.
Commercial nuclear-powered shipping remains limited globally because of regulatory complexity, infrastructure requirements, safety concerns, and high upfront development costs, despite longstanding interest in the technology’s potential to reduce fuel expenses and emissions over long voyages.
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