Transportation Secretary Duffy launches SMNR Initiative to drive down costs for U.S. shipping

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) today launched an initiative to develop Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMR) for commercial shipping. As a first step, MARAD is calling on innovators and industry stakeholders to help develop an SMR model that revitalizes U.S. shipbuilding, cuts costs, and secures energy dominance.

The Request for Information (RFI) is seeking input from industry and innovators to advance:

• EFFICIENCY: Deploying reliable, high-power energy to allow commercial ships to travel farther and faster.

• AFFORDABILITY: Small modular reactors that will largely eliminate fuel costs and reduce maintenance requirements.

• NATIONAL SECURITY: Reinforcing American supply chains and securing energy independence to bolster our national defense.

• SCALABILITY: Identifying streamlined deployment methods to integrate nuclear power across entire fleets and logistical networks.

• SHIPBUILDING & WORKFORCE: Integrating SMNR production into U.S. shipyards to build strong robust workforce pipelines and new credentialing standards.

• REGULATORY READINESS: Establishing liability, insurance, and inspection frameworks to ensure seamless port access before construction begins.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. is reclaiming its rightful place as a global sea power,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “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—all at the Speed of Trump.”

“To successfully introduce SMRs, we must view this through a system-transition lens rather than just as a technology demonstration,” said MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “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.”