The Trump administration has launched a major push toward nuclear-powered commercial shipping, signaling one of the most ambitious efforts in decades to modernize and rebuild the United States maritime industry.
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On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) unveiled a new initiative focused on developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for commercial vessels. The program is being positioned as part of a broader strategy to restore America’s maritime competitiveness, strengthen domestic shipbuilding, and reduce reliance on traditional marine fuels.
The initiative begins with a formal Request for Information (RFI), inviting industry proposals and technical feedback on how nuclear propulsion could be integrated into commercial fleets, shipyards, and logistics infrastructure.
According to the administration, SMR-powered vessels could significantly extend sailing range, lower long-term fuel costs, and improve energy security, while also helping the U.S. compete more effectively in a global shipping market increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions and energy volatility.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the project as central to the administration’s wider industrial and maritime agenda.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. is reclaiming its rightful place as a global sea power,” Duffy said. “To secure this future for America’s shipbuilding industry, we need to innovate.”
The announcement comes as Washington intensifies efforts to revive the country’s declining commercial maritime sector amid growing competition from China, which currently dominates global shipbuilding capacity.
Nuclear propulsion has long been viewed as a potential game-changer for commercial shipping because reactors can operate for years without refueling, allowing vessels to travel longer distances with reduced operational costs and lower emissions.
MARAD said the initiative will focus on several key areas, including the deployment of high-output onboard energy systems, integration of reactor construction into U.S. shipyards, reduction of maintenance and fuel costs, and development of insurance and liability frameworks necessary for commercial adoption.
MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel emphasized that the initiative is being approached as a broader transformation of maritime infrastructure rather than simply a technology trial.
“To successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” Carmel said.
Multiple federal agencies are participating in the effort, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Energy, as regulators begin addressing the legal, operational, and safety challenges associated with civilian nuclear-powered vessels.
Although nuclear propulsion has been used successfully for decades in naval fleets and icebreakers, commercial adoption has remained limited due to high upfront costs, complex regulations, liability concerns, port-access restrictions, and public skepticism surrounding nuclear safety.
However, interest in maritime nuclear technology has accelerated globally as shipping companies face mounting pressure to cut emissions without sacrificing long-range operational capability.
The U.S. initiative follows a growing wave of nuclear shipping projects internationally, particularly in South Korea, where major shipbuilders and classification societies are actively developing nuclear-powered container ship concepts and floating SMR platforms.
The administration’s plan also aligns with a broader White House strategy aimed at expanding domestic energy production and rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity under executive orders centered on “Unleashing American Energy” and “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.”
MARAD said the next phase of the initiative will include workshops, technical consultations, and industry listening sessions as the agency gathers feedback from shipbuilders, operators, energy companies, and regulators.
Public comments on the proposal are scheduled to remain open until August 5, 2026.
If advanced successfully, the initiative could mark a major turning point for the global shipping industry, potentially positioning nuclear propulsion as a long-term solution for cleaner, high-endurance commercial transport while reshaping the future of American maritime manufacturing.