The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) and Core Power have launched a first-of-a-kind federal-private cooperation framework to accelerate the commercial, industrial and regulatory pathway for US-flagged nuclear-powered merchant ships. Core Power is targeting first construction from 2028.
The initiative aims to lay the groundwork for a new generation of nuclear-powered merchant ships by bringing together government and industry expertise. It is part of the Trump Administration’s Maritime Action Plan.
Nuclear propulsion could significantly change the operating model for commercial shipping. It offers sustained power for years between refuelling while reducing dependence on conventional marine fuels. Moreover, nuclear power eliminates propulsion emissions. It could also allow ships to maintain higher speeds without the fuel-volume and fuel-price constraints of conventional propulsion.
Targeting Chinese dominance
The strategic context is urgent. China dominates global commercial shipbuilding and is actively developing nuclear-powered commercial shipping. State-owned shipbuilders are promoting nuclear-powered merchant-vessel concepts and building relevant nuclear manufacturing capability.
The US Maritime Action Plan is intended to reverse US maritime decline, mobilise private investment and rebuild an industrial base the Administration has identified as central to economic and national security.
First construction from 2028
Mikal Bøe, Founder and CEO of Core Power: ‘The United States has seven decades of nuclear-at-sea experience, world-class allies and the nuclear expertise to lead the next generation. Japan and Korea can accelerate conventional ship construction while America builds the specialist nuclear-grade integration and lifecycle capability at home – capability that can also strengthen the wider maritime industrial base.’
‘We are not asking for another study,’ adds Bøe. ‘Core Power is targeting first construction starts from 2028. Government can set the direction and coordinate; private industry must move the money and the steel. We are honored to be working with MARAD on this landmark programme.’
Framework and US nuclear-grade shipyard
The main challenge is developing a complete system that is safe, secure, licensable, insurable and financially viable. The new cooperation framework between MARAD and Core Power will address issues including regulation, port operations, workforce training, fuel supply, insurance, financing and lifecycle support.
Industrial capacity will also play a key role. Core Power plans to establish a US nuclear-grade shipyard specialising in nuclear integration, fuelling, testing, refuelling and through-life support. Conventional hulls and marine systems would be built at commercial shipyards, potentially using allied shipbuilding capacity. The initiative is intended to strengthen the wider US maritime industrial base by expanding its nuclear-qualified workforce, supplier network and heavy engineering capabilities.
The Memorandum of Cooperation supports priorities in President Trump’s Maritime Action Plan and follows a recent MARAD request for information on a commercially viable approach to nuclear propulsion in the US marine transportation system.
Picture by ChatGPT.
