Floating Power Plant on the Ocean Floor... U.S. Launches Marine Nuclear Experiment

The U.S. government is officially reviewing the feasibility of deploying undersea nuclear power plants and advancing small modular reactors (SMRs) for commercial ships and ports. Bloomberg News reports that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have signed an agreement to jointly evaluate the potential of underwater nuclear power systems. Currently, no commercial nuclear power plants are approved or under construction in U.S. federal waters. The agencies plan to assess how to responsibly introduce subsea nuclear technology and outline specific implementation and regulatory frameworks. Matt Giacomoni, Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, stated that "underwater nuclear systems have safely operated in naval applications for decades," proving their reliability as an energy source even in harsh marine environments. He added that this could significantly enhance U.S. energy security. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Long Beach Port have also signed a memorandum of understanding to test SMR technology at ports and explore its application in maritime and logistics sectors. Noel Hasegawa, CEO of Long Beach Port, emphasized that rising fuel costs and energy market uncertainties highlight the need for diversified energy sources, making now the right time to evaluate nuclear energy. Blue Core Energy, a marine SMR startup, is collaborating with Long Beach Port on R&D to develop a floating nuclear power plant concept by integrating compact reactor technology onto barges. Copi Asante, CEO and founder of Blue Core Energy, described the system as "a power plant floating on the water," leveraging decades of proven nuclear technology miniaturized for maritime use. As the U.S. advances both subsea nuclear and ship-based SMR initiatives, the scope of nuclear technology application is expanding beyond land-based power generation into maritime transport and port infrastructure. However, commercialization will require addressing risks such as marine accidents, radioactive material leaks, security, spent fuel handling, and jurisdictional challenges among regulatory bodies.