US eyes nuclear power for commercial shipping

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has called on nuclear technology and shipping companies to share information to help develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping applications.

IMAGE: Concept of Crowley and BWXT's nuclear power-generation vessel. Crowley

The initiative is led by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Maritime Administration (MARAD), a federal agency under the DoT.

The government has sought input from industry stakeholders to help develop SMRs capable of powering commercial vessels and integrating nuclear energy across the maritime sector.

An SMR is a compact nuclear reactor typically capable of generating up to 300 megawatts of electricity per unit. Compared with conventional nuclear reactors, SMRs generally require less maintenance and are considered safer because their reactor cores can be automatically cooled in the event of an accident.

Nuclear-powered commercial vessels could "largely eliminate fuel costs and reduce maintenance requirements" while providing "reliable, high-power energy to allow commercial ships to travel farther and faster,” the DoT said.

The government has also sought input on “liability, insurance and inspection frameworks to ensure seamless port access before construction begins,” it added.

By Konica Bhatt

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