A framework for commercial nuclear shipping
A framework for commercial nuclear shipping
Working with the U.S. Maritime Administration to address the practical requirements for a future U.S.-flagged fleet of nuclear-powered commercial ships.
Working with the U.S. Maritime Administration to address the practical requirements for a future U.S.-flagged fleet of nuclear-powered commercial ships.
CORE POWER and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in August 2026. The agreement provides a framework for government and industry to address the requirements for designing, building, licensing, insuring, operating, and maintaining commercial nuclear vessels. Bringing these elements together is intended to reduce uncertainty and give shipowners, ports, and investors greater confidence in the pathway to commercial nuclear shipping.
CORE POWER and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in August 2026. The agreement provides a framework for government and industry to address the requirements for designing, building, licensing, insuring, operating, and maintaining commercial nuclear vessels. Bringing these elements together is intended to reduce uncertainty and give shipowners, ports, and investors greater confidence in the pathway to commercial nuclear shipping.
CORE POWER and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in August 2026. The agreement provides a framework for government and industry to address the requirements for designing, building, licensing, insuring, operating, and maintaining commercial nuclear vessels. Bringing these elements together is intended to reduce uncertainty and give shipowners, ports, and investors greater confidence in the pathway to commercial nuclear shipping.
Areas of Cooperation
Areas of Cooperation
Regulatory pathways
Regulatory pathways
Requirements for nuclear and maritime regulatory acceptance.
Requirements for nuclear and maritime regulatory acceptance.
Port operations
Port operations
Arrangements for receiving and supporting nuclear-powered commercial ships.
Arrangements for receiving and supporting nuclear-powered commercial ships.
Industrial capacity
Industrial capacity
Shipbuilding, specialist nuclear integration, and supporting supply chains.
Shipbuilding, specialist nuclear integration, and supporting supply chains.
Workforce development
Workforce development
Skills, training, and qualifications for construction, operations, and servicing.
Skills, training, and qualifications for construction, operations, and servicing.
Fuel and lifecycle support
Fuel and lifecycle support
Fuel supply, maintenance, refueling, and decommissioning responsibilities.
Fuel supply, maintenance, refueling, and decommissioning responsibilities.
Insurance and finance
Insurance and finance
Commercial arrangements to support investment in vessels and infrastructure.
Commercial arrangements to support investment in vessels and infrastructure.
Our role
Our role
We contribute maritime nuclear engineering, product development, and systems-integration expertise, alongside plans for shipyard delivery and lifecycle support.
We contribute maritime nuclear engineering, product development, and systems-integration expertise, alongside plans for shipyard delivery and lifecycle support.
MARAD coordinates engagement across federal agencies and with industry and other stakeholders to address the wider conditions needed for deployment. Regulatory and licensing decisions remain with the relevant authorities. Our guiding principle is safety and security without compromise, with the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards, and operational excellence embedded from the start.
MARAD coordinates engagement across federal agencies and with industry and other stakeholders to address the wider conditions needed for deployment. Regulatory and licensing decisions remain with the relevant authorities. Our guiding principle is safety and security without compromise, with the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards, and operational excellence embedded from the start.
Connected to our delivery plans
The cooperation links to our work on nuclear-powered commercial ships and the industrial capability to support them.
Nuclear Propulsion
Developing commercial vessels with performance, operating requirements, and lifecycle support considered together.
Industrial Delivery
Planning specialist U.S. nuclear integration and lifecycle capability to support future fleets.