US Pushes Nuclear-Powered Shipping to Revive Maritime Industry
The US government also intends to rely on nuclear propulsion for ships as part of its efforts to revitalise the national maritime industry. With a new partner, it is even considering the construction of a specialised shipyard.
The US government is increasing its focus on nuclear-powered vessels as part of efforts to rebuild the nation’s maritime industry. British maritime technology company Core Power has signed a new cooperation agreement with the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) to explore the commercial, regulatory, and industrial frameworks needed to support a future fleet of US-flagged nuclear-powered merchant ships.
The initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s Maritime Action Plan, which aims to strengthen domestic shipbuilding, attract private investment, and reduce reliance on Asian shipbuilding nations, particularly China. Core Power argues that next-generation nuclear propulsion could help restore US competitiveness while creating specialised expertise in nuclear technology integration and lifecycle management.
Core Power CEO Mikal Bøe believes the US is well positioned to lead the development of civilian nuclear shipping, combining American nuclear expertise with conventional shipbuilding capacity from allied nations such as Japan and South Korea. He argues that simply modernising traditional vessels will not be enough for the US to regain maritime leadership.
A major challenge remains the creation of a safe, insurable, financeable, and fully regulated ecosystem for nuclear-powered commercial vessels. This would require clear frameworks covering reactor technology, fuel supply, port infrastructure, crew training, maintenance, and end-of-life management.
As part of its long-term vision, Core Power is considering the development of a specialised US shipyard dedicated to nuclear vessel integration, including reactor installation, fuelling, testing, commissioning, and maintenance. Conventional hull construction could be outsourced to commercial yards in allied countries.
However, the agreement remains non-binding. The Memorandum of Cooperation does not include procurement commitments, federal funding, or obligations for MARAD to purchase vessels or technology. For now, the partnership is focused on developing a commercially viable roadmap for the future use of nuclear propulsion in US merchant shipping.
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