Shippingtelegraph: CORE POWER targets first U.S. nuclear-powered ship construction from 2028

Published by shippingtelegraph

The United States is moving to make nuclear propulsion part of its commercial maritime revival. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) and CORE POWER (US) Inc. (CORE POWER) announced a first-of-a-kind federal-private cooperation framework to accelerate the commercial, industrial and regulatory pathway for a future fleet of U.S.-flagged nuclear-powered merchant ships.

CORE POWER is targeting first construction from 2028. However, the timing remains subject to regulatory, commercial, project and industrial readiness. 

The company plans to develop a dedicated U.S. nuclear-grade integration and lifecycle shipyard for nuclear installation, initial fueling, testing, commissioning, refueling, defueling and through-life support, while conventional hulls and marine systems are built at commercial shipyards.

That U.S. nuclear shipyard supports commercial fleet deployment while also expanding the nuclear-qualified workforce, suppliers and heavy engineering capacity available to the wider U.S. maritime industrial base. 

The initiative advances relevant priorities of US president Trump’s Maritime Action Plan and follows MARAD’s recent Request for Information for a commercially viable, system-centric approach to nuclear power in the U.S. marine transportation system.  

The memorandum of cooperation was formalized on August 24 during a signing ceremony at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The announcement comes just ahead of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ATLAS launch on nuclear applications at sea on August 26 and 27. 

The memorandum of cooperation creates a forum for government, industry and other stakeholders to work through regulatory acceptance, port operations, workforce credentialing, fuel and lifecycle services, insurance and finance, industrial capacity and potential federal demand structures.

Mikal Bøe, founder and chief executive officer of CORE POWER, said: “China is already moving toward nuclear-powered commercial shipping. That should focus minds in Washington. America does not regain maritime strength by building a better version of yesterday’s ship.  

“The United States has seven decades of nuclear-at-sea experience, world-class allies and the nuclear expertise to lead the next generation. Japan and Korea can accelerate conventional ship construction while America builds the specialist nuclear-grade integration and lifecycle capability at home – capability that can also strengthen the wider maritime industrial base. 

“We are not asking for another study. CORE POWER is targeting first construction starts from 2028. Government can set the direction and coordinate; private industry must move the money and the steel. We are honored to be working with MARAD on this landmark program. Under Captain Carmel’s and the Administration’s visionary leadership, MARAD is the convening authority for this new American industry.

“This is a new dawn for American shipping: making American shipping great again by leading what comes next, not rebuilding what came before.”

The company said the first construction from 2028 is a CORE POWER target and is not a MARAD commitment.