Posted on May 18, 2026
The Trump administration has launched a major push toward nuclear-powered commercial shipping, aiming to transform the U.S. maritime industry significantly.
On May 7, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) unveiled a new initiative focused on developing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMR) for commercial shipping.
The initiative is part of an effort to advance President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders on unleashing American energy and restoring America’s maritime dominance.
The initiative begins with a formal Request for Information (RFI), seeking input from industry and innovators. 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 administration says the technology could extend sailing range, eliminate fuel costs, reduce maintenance requirements, and enhance national security.
MARAD said the initiative will focus on several key areas, such as installing high-power onboard energy systems, reducing maintenance requirements and fuel expenses, integrating SMNR production into U.S. shipyards, securing energy independence to bolster national defense, and establishing liability, insurance and inspection frameworks to ensure seamless port access before construction begins.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. is reclaiming its rightful place as a global sea power,” Duffy said in a statement. “To secure this future for America’s shipbuilding industry, we need to innovate. 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-all at the Speed of Trump.”
MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel said the government is approaching the effort as more than simply a technology demonstration project.
“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.”
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 indicated that additional input through other forums will be collected, including public workshops, listening sessions, and technical exchanges.
Public comments on the initiative are due no later than August 5, 2026.
