The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking information to support the development of a recently launched initiative that will build scalable, repeatable, commercially viable, system-centric, small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) and deploy them in the marine transportation system.
“To successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” MARAD Administrator Stephen 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.”
MARAD seeks feedback from innovators and industry stakeholders on affordability, efficiency, national security, regulatory readiness, scalability, and shipbuilding and work force. Comments are due on Aug. 5.
Specifically the agency is seeking information on how SMRs eliminate fuel costs and reduce maintenance requirements; establishing liability, insurance, and inspection frameworks; deploying high-power energy to allow commercial ships to travel farther and faster; identifying streamlined deployment methods to integrate nuclear power across entire fleets and logistical networks; integrating SMR production into U.S. shipyards; and reinforcing supply chains.
MARAD is collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy and will collect additional feedback from other methods.