Elizabeth River harbor and Nassco Shipyard platform by the riverside in Virginia.
The Maritime Administration is exploring how nuclear energy in small modular reactors can revolutionize the U.S. marine transportation system.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced the SMR initiative in an information request to private industry and developers.
“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,” Duffy noted.
These SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors able to generate up to 300 megawatts of electricity per unit, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
