US regulators clear a path for civilian nuclear-powered ships

On 22 June 2026, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the US Coast Guard signed a memorandum of understanding that, for the first time since 1973, sets out how the two agencies will jointly oversee civilian maritime nuclear projects — nuclear-propelled vessels, floating nuclear power plants and related maritime nuclear technology. It is an early but meaningful regulatory step towards commercialising nuclear power at sea.

Why it matters. Global shipping emits roughly 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ a year, around 2.5–3% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. With green fuels still costly and complex, advanced nuclear is moving from conference-panel talk to concrete policy signals, early approvals and vendor tie-ups.

How oversight is split. Under the MOU, the NRC leads on reactor licensing, radiological safety and security, and serves as lead federal agency for environmental review; the Coast Guard handles vessel and facility inspection, maritime safety and crewing. The agencies will run concurrent rather than sequential reviews to avoid duplicating requirements for applicants.

Where CORE-POWER fits. CORE-POWER is a UK pure-play building ship-based nuclear energy systems — both onboard propulsion and floating nuclear power plants. In June 2026 it published a joint study with Maersk, Lloyd's Register and the Port of Rotterdam on port calls for nuclear ships, and launched an assessment of BWXT's mPower SMR for floating plants — the kind of deployment a clearer US regulatory framework is intended to enable.

Read more: NRC–USCG MOU (PDF) · NRC · CORE POWER