Notice2026-09070
Request for Information: Development of a Commercially Viable System-Centric Small Modular Reactor Concept for Deployment in the Marine Transportation System
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Published
May 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentMaritime Administration
Abstract
MARAD is seeking information from the public to support the development of a U.S.-built scalable, repeatable, commercially viable, system-centric, small modular reactor (SMR) and their deployment within the marine transportation system. This Request for Information (RFI) for a single vessel or technology demonstration seeks public feedback on proficient system architecture, including liability frameworks, insurance pathways, port acceptance, workforce development, and standards integration for vessel deployment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24961-24963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09070]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket Number MARAD-2026-0729]
Request for Information: Development of a Commercially Viable
System-Centric Small Modular Reactor Concept for Deployment in the
Marine Transportation System
AGENCY: Maritime Administration (MARAD), Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: MARAD is seeking information from the public to support the
development of a U.S.-built scalable, repeatable, commercially viable,
system-centric, small modular reactor (SMR) and their deployment within
the marine transportation system. This Request for Information (RFI)
for a single vessel or technology demonstration seeks public feedback
on proficient system architecture, including liability frameworks,
insurance pathways, port acceptance, workforce development, and
standards integration for vessel deployment.
DATES: Written comments including all supporting information and
documents, are requested on or before August 5, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments,
identified by ``SMR RFI'' by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Search
using the DOT Docket Number MARAD-2026-0729 and follow the instructions
for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590. If you would like to know that your comments
[[Page 24962]]
reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard
or envelope. The Docket Management Facility is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
Note: We recommend that you include your name and mailing
address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of your
document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission. If you submit your inputs by mail or hand-delivery,
they must be submitted in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\
by 11 inches, single-sided, suitable for copying and electronic
filing. All submissions received should include the agency name and
docket number. All comments received will be posted without change
to the docket at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal
information provided.
Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments to this RFI contain commercial or
financial information that is customarily treated as private and that
you actually treat as private, it is important that you clearly
designate the submitted comments as CBI and submit the information
directly to the person identified in the section titled FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT below and take the following steps: (1) Mark each
page of the submission containing CBI as ``Confidential''; (2) send,
along with the original submission, a second copy of with the CBI
removed or redacted; and (3) explain why the information you are
submitting is CBI. Unless you are notified otherwise, MARAD will treat
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will
not be placed in the public docket of this RFI. Any comment submissions
received that are not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in
the public docket.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). For information on
DOT's compliance with the Privacy Act, please visit <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/privacy">https://www.transportation.gov/privacy</a>.
Electronic Access and Filing: As required by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4),
this document, and all comments may be viewed online through the
Federal eRulemaking portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. An electronic copy
of this document may also be downloaded by accessing the Office of the
Federal Register's home page at: <a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sydney Plante, Office of the Maritime
Administrator, via electronic mail at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eb868a998a8f9b998e9898848d8d82888eab8f849fc58c849d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91fcf0e3f0f5e1e3f4e2e2fef7f7f8f2f4d1f5fee5bff6fee7">[email protected]</span></a> or call
202-366-4105. For those who use a telecommunications device (TDD)
please call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339 to contact the above individual during business hours. The FIRS is
available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a
message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business
hours. If you have questions about viewing the Docket, call Docket
Operations, telephone: (800) 647-5527.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Historical maritime transitions--from sail
to steam, wood to iron, and conventional propulsion to new energy
systems--have occurred throughout our nation's history. Durable
adoption of SMR propulsion technology, a modern-day maritime
transition, has great potential not only as a result of engineering
breakthroughs, but also when the U.S. Government helps reduce systemic
uncertainty, align regulatory structures, and enable market conditions
that allow private capital and operators to scale new technologies.
MARAD views the potential introduction of SMR propulsion through a
system-transition lens. MARAD's role, in coordination with interagency
partners, is intended to support alignment, transparency, and
integration across existing authorities rather than to direct
technology selection or development activities. Federal participation
typically supports risk stabilization, standards coordination,
infrastructure integration, diplomatic engagement, and strategic
signaling to reduce uncertainty and enable commercially led deployment.
As such, the purpose of this RFI is to investigate if recent
advancements in SMR technology and novel concept development are
usable, scalable, and can be made commercially viable.
Implementation of these roles will occur in coordination with the
Department of Energy; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Department
of Homeland Security, including the U.S. Coast Guard; the Department of
War; and other relevant agencies, as appropriate, consistent with
applicable financial and budgetary frameworks and statutory
authorities.
Consistent with longstanding United States maritime practice, any
future actions informed through this RFI would be pursued in alignment
with applicable international standards, protocols, and development
processes, including engagement through the International Maritime
Organization and relevant International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea (a/k/a ``SOLAS'') frameworks.
While this RFI focuses on SMR concepts as the current reference
architecture for maritime nuclear propulsion, responses may address
alternative configurations that meet comparable safety, scalability,
and commercial integration objectives consistent with the system-first
principles outlined herein. Consistent with this approach, the purpose
of this RFI is to inform people how government actions can enable a
coherent approach to the production of maritime nuclear technologies
that industry can scale commercially.
Global competitors are advancing the integration of nuclear
propulsion into the broader maritime industry, including shipyards,
ports, insurance regimes, and logistics networks, which places the U.S.
at a strategic disadvantage in the absence of domestic SMR development.
Request for Information
This RFI seeks industry insight into building a coherent U.S.
system capable of long-term commercial adoption, while providing global
leadership. Specifically, the purpose of this RFI is to investigate if
advancements in SMR technology and novel concept development are
usable, scalable, and can be made commercially viable. This includes
integration of SMR-propelled vessels into international regulatory
regimes. Responses should emphasize system architecture, scalability,
safety, and commercial viability. Submissions should not exceed 30
pages, excluding appendices. MARAD is requesting information on the
following issues:
1. Initial Topics
<bullet> Identify pathways-technical, regulatory, or other-toward
repeatable deployment rather than one-off demonstrations;
<bullet> Address requirements needed to develop commercially viable
maritime nuclear technology, including those requirements which may
need alignment between ports, insurance, workforce, and other
regulatory regimes;
<bullet> Assess system integration across shipbuilding, operations,
and logistics networks;
<bullet> Support development of commercially viable propulsion
choices driven by lifecycle economics;
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<bullet> Inform governance structures enabling scalable replication
of SMR-powered vessels; and
<bullet> What lessons can be learned from the development and
construction of nuclear-powered vessels that could inform us how a
commercial nuclear-powered vessel could be economically viable.
2. Notional Development Roadmap
The following progressive framework is provided solely to support
industry and stakeholder discussion:
<bullet> Early regulatory alignment, liability architecture, and
maturation of U.S. SMR concepts.
<bullet> Port-based deployments and operational demonstrations to
foster stakeholder support.
<bullet> Integration into strategic sealift new construction
platforms currently under development or other government owned new
construction as prototype platforms to validate operational capability
and to provide actual operating information/data to further commercial
risk analysis and enhance public perception of the technology.
3. System-First Principles
MARAD seeks information and insight into the following specific
areas:
<bullet> Liability architecture and insurability before hull
construction;
<bullet> Port access and standards alignment prior to deployment;
<bullet> Workforce pathways developed ahead of vessel launch;
<bullet> Replication and commercial scheduling viability as primary
success metrics; and
<bullet> Integration into existing maritime logistics systems.
4. Technical Scope
Reactor Technology and Integration. Safe and secure SMR
architectures emphasizing modularity and maintainability, including
proposed solutions for the back end of the fuel cycle.
Integration of SMR-Powered Vessels into Shipyard Operations.
Concepts demonstrating modular production and integration with U.S.
shipyard capacity. The emphasis on U.S. construction, both ships and
SMRs, is critical.
Legal and Regulatory Pathways. Approaches enabling predictable
licensing timelines and standardized approval pathways for SMR-related
technologies. This includes determining whether existing civilian
nuclear frameworks with other countries may allow for cooperation to
develop clear documentation, inspection, and classification regimes.
Liability, Insurance, and Financial Architecture. Frameworks
enabling routine financing and underwriting of nuclear-powered
commercial vessels.
Ports, Standards, and International Acceptance. Inspection regimes,
vessel classification rules, and strategies for shaping international
norms.
Workforce and Operational Model. Seafarer Certification Including
standards for U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner credentialing and
competence requirements for endorsements for vessels with nuclear
powered propulsion.
Commercial Integration and Market Pull. Trade lanes and cargo flows
demonstrating economically repeatable deployment.
5. Strategic Themes
MARAD is particularly interested in concepts that treat nuclear
propulsion as commercial infrastructure rather than a technology
demonstration, and that demonstrate clear pathways to scalable,
repeatable maritime operations.
6. Specific Information Requests and Questions for Industry and the
Public
<bullet> Please provide any input on the core technology and
innovative features of the SMR concept and how such concept would
differ from existing solutions?
<bullet> What key advantages would a particular concept of a
modular reactor design offer in terms of safety, efficiency, and
environmental impact compared to current technologies?
<bullet> Please describe how a SMR concept is or can become
sufficiently scalable and adaptable for various maritime applications,
including potential integration with existing infrastructures?
<bullet> How does a SMR concept enable repeatable deployment across
multiple vessels or classes?
<bullet> What liability or insurance structures are required before
commercial financing becomes viable?
<bullet> What port and vessel legal or regulatory barriers must be
resolved prior to deployment?
<bullet> How can workforce pipelines be established to prepare our
Nation to develop a sufficient number of trained workers to build and
crew SMR-powered vessels?
<bullet> What system-level risks could prevent replication even if
a single vessel succeeds?
<bullet> How does a SMR concept integrate into existing logistics
networks and cargo markets?
<bullet> Please identify any other critical factors, risks, or
ecosystem dependencies crucial for MARAD and other agencies to consider
in supporting the development and deployment of commercially viable
SMR-powered vessels in our marine transportation system.
<bullet> Please provide recommendations for law and regulations or
sub-regulatory guidance that could be revised, rescinded, or
promulgated to support, incentivize, or ensure legal and regulatory
consistency for the SMR maritime nuclear propulsion concept from
Department of Energy; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Department
of Homeland Security, including the U.S. Coast Guard; the Department of
War; and other relevant agencies, as appropriate, consistent with
applicable financial and budgetary frameworks and statutory
authorities.
Docket Appendix
MARAD encourages all interested parties to review the appendix
posted on the docket:
The Appendix titled ``Illustrative Maritime SMR Concept Development
Context'' provides a conceptual framework to help respondents better
understand the relationship between key components in the maritime SMR
concept, guiding their submissions in addressing relevant challenges
and opportunities.
Follow-on Steps and Stakeholder Engagement
Following this RFI, MARAD intends to host a series of engagement
activities open to the public, which may include technical exchanges,
listening sessions, public workshops, or public meetings. These
engagements are intended to clarify broad challenges, support
international dialogue, and ensure transparent participation prior to
the response deadline.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-09070 Filed 5-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
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