Why momentum is building for maritime applications of nuclear technology

A convergence of trends mean nuclear energy is re-emerging as a transformative force for maritime industries. From powering ports and producing future fuels to enabling data centers and desalination platforms, maritime nuclear technology could be the catalyst for the next energy revolution.

Commercial nuclear power at sea is enjoying renewed momentum. A convergence of trends – energy transition, regulation and innovation – has attracted new investment in commercial nuclear technology, and maritime applications are of great interest.

Advanced reactor technologies, robust Class rules, purpose-built testing facilities, evolving regulatory frameworks, and a growing appetite for public-private partnerships are all converging to bring maritime nuclear applications to feasibility. The timeline - once uncertain - is now coming into focus and nuclear energy is emerging as a credible long-term solution for a wide range of maritime applications with global impact.

It’s not just that nuclear energy is clean; it’s that it offers unmatched energy density, reliability, and strategic independence. Nuclear is a catalyzing technology, capable of unlocking the next wave of industrial transformation, from energy transition to the data economy. As important, maritime nuclear applications provide unique opportunities to help revitalize the maritime industry with new, high technology shipbuilding and sustainment opportunities that have substantial industrial supply chains through the economy.

Nuclear: at the heart of a new offshore ecosystem

Maritime applications provide unique opportunities for the next chapter of civil nuclear power. The maritime environment demands high energy density, long endurance, and minimal emissions – exactly the strengths of nuclear technology.

Beyond propulsion, nuclear power can serve as the foundation for an entirely new maritime ecosystem. Shoreside nuclear plants can power ports and produce shipping’s next generation fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, while offshore installations could support floating data centers, synthetic fuel platforms, and desalination systems.

Together, these developments signal not only a new energy source for the maritime industry but also a fundamental rethinking of how the maritime sector integrates with the global energy and data economy.

Floating power barges: the first wave of deployment

The earliest practical applications of this new technology are likely to be floating nuclear power barges – single-location offshore reactors that can provide clean, reliable electricity to ports, islands, and coastal communities.

Because these installations are stationary and operate within defined maritime zones, regulators may find them easier to approve. Their design allows for strict control of safety, security, and non-proliferation measures, creating a lower-risk pathway to deployment.

By the 2030s, we could see the first generation of commercial floating nuclear plants supplying power to grid-constrained regions, supporting hydrogen production, and stabilizing renewable-heavy grids.

Powering the data economy

Siting nuclear power offshore has the potential to solve some of the big issues facing our world. By 2050, floating nuclear-powered data centers could account for as much as 10% of the global market. In the United States alone, this could mean nine offshore facilities, harnessing the natural cooling capacity of seawater and the energy density of nuclear power to support the ever-growing demand for AI workloads. With the global data center market projected to reach $212 billion by 2029, the economic opportunity is immense.

Similarly, nuclear-powered desalination platforms could provide scalable, zero-emission solutions for the world’s growing water scarcity challenges. By 2050, rising demand for freshwater in island nations and coastal regions will require enormous amounts of energy. Floating desalination plants, powered by small modular reactors (SMRs), can deliver sustainable water supplies without increasing carbon emissions.

Nuclear energy also offers a path to scaling future fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. Producing these fuels at scale demands stable, high-output, emission-free energy – and nuclear power has the potential to meet those requirements in an affordable and sustainable way and in locations with easy access to ship for those fuels.

Building the nuclear corridors of the future

When it comes to nuclear propulsion for ships, beyond technology, other challenges are regulatory and social acceptance. The first nuclear-powered commercial vessels will likely operate along defined maritime corridors between nations that share mature regulatory frameworks and public acceptance of nuclear energy.

These corridors will serve as controlled environments for early deployment, providing self-contained infrastructure and vessel support systems. They enable safe operation, regulatory alignment, and integration across energy, data, and logistics networks.

For policymakers, they represent an opportunity to create targeted ecosystems with fit-for-purpose regulations, financial incentives, and safety frameworks. In doing so, they send clear demand signals to ports, shipyards, and technology providers, catalyzing global investment and accelerating adoption.

Setting the standards

To realize nuclear’s maritime potential, safety and trust must come first. This is where independent third parties like ABS play a critical role. ABS has been a pioneer in maritime nuclear technology since 1962. Our mission today is to bridge the gap between outdated 1960s-era regulations and modern reactor designs, providing the technical rigor and oversight necessary to secure regulatory approval and public confidence.

Our Floating Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) Code represents one of the most significant advancements in nuclear maritime regulation in decades. It modernizes obsolete standards with contemporary IAEA safety concepts, creating a robust framework for resilience and operational integrity.

Through our Joint Development Project with Core Power and Athlos, we are preparing for FNPP deployment in the Mediterranean. Our Athens-based Global Ship Systems Center is conducting comprehensive analyses evaluating political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) factors to identify optimal deployment sites across islands, ports, and coastal communities.

Building the future, together

ABS is not waiting for the future of nuclear to arrive – we are actively building it. Through practical research, strategic partnerships, and proactive standards development, we are helping to shape the industry’s path toward deployment.

We have issued multiple Approvals in Principle (AiPs) for advanced nuclear concepts, including HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering’s 17K TEU molten salt reactor containership, SMR-powered ship designs developed with KRISO, floating nuclear power barges designed by HD KSOE and the world’s first nuclear-powered LNGC designs with SHI.

In 2025, ABS granted approval in principle for a floating nuclear power plant developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD KSOE, intended to generate electricity offshore and nearshore to support port facilities and local communities. These approvals represent the industry’s first comprehensive rules for floating nuclear power plants, building on a series of AiPs issued since 2023.

Our collaborations with the US Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) underscore our commitment to advancing technology-neutral standards that support innovation across reactor types.

The timing Is right

The global policy environment has never been more favorable for maritime nuclear power. Carbon penalties, clean energy incentives, and revitalized shipbuilding initiatives are aligning to create a powerful economic case for adoption.

In the United States, tax credits for nuclear power and domestic shipbuilding could decisively shift the economics by the time small modular reactors are ready for commercial maritime use. Meanwhile, a landmark US-UK agreement, inked in September 2025, commits both nations to accelerating civil maritime nuclear development – including the creation of a dedicated nuclear shipping corridor between the two countries.

Political will, regulatory innovation, and industrial capability are converging. The maritime industry now has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead a transformational shift toward this abundant, reliable, and clean power source.

Charting the course ahead

The journey toward a nuclear-powered commercial fleet is complex, but it has already begun. With modern standards, coordinated regulatory pathways, and strong international collaboration, nuclear technology can redefine what is possible at sea.

ABS is committed to leading this transformation through research, partnerships, and the development of transparent, technology-agnostic standards. We are shaping the rules, validating the technologies, and preparing the industry for deployment as the economics align.

The nuclear corridors we build today will define the energy, data, and environmental resilience of tomorrow.