ABS, US DOE Sign MoU on Maritime Nuclear Technology

ABS and DOE Target Commercial Nuclear Shipping

Classification society ABS and the US Department of Energy (DOE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to examine how nuclear technology could be applied to commercial shipping. According to a report by Ship & Bunker, the agreement was announced in an ABS press release and covers nuclear-powered vessels, floating nuclear power plants, and the port and shipyard infrastructure needed to support them.

Scope of the Agreement

Under the MoU, ABS and DOE plan to conduct feasibility studies on floating nuclear power and on potential nuclear transportation corridors. The partnership will also explore how the US shipbuilding sector could be developed to construct and operate nuclear-powered vessels. ABS will co-manage the Maritime Nuclear Applications Group, contributing technical, regulatory, economic, and policy expertise to the effort.

Ted Garrish, DOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, said advanced nuclear technology “has the potential to transform the commercial maritime industry and open new markets for American innovation.”

Part of a Broader US Push

The MoU arrives as US agencies and companies increase attention on nuclear propulsion for commercial shipping, an application historically confined to naval vessels. Earlier in 2026, the US Coast Guard signed its own MoU with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to support nuclear applications in the maritime sector.

Separately, UK-based maritime nuclear technology developer Core Power is targeting construction of its first US-flagged nuclear-powered vessel starting in 2028. Core Power has also partnered with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority to assess the Texas port’s readiness to handle nuclear-powered shipping.

What It Means for Owners and Operators

While nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels remains at an early, exploratory stage in the US, the ABS-DOE collaboration signals growing institutional interest in building out the regulatory frameworks, technical standards, and infrastructure that would be required before such vessels could operate commercially. For ship owners and managers tracking long-term decarbonization pathways, the studies arising from this MoU could eventually inform discussions around alternative propulsion options, though concrete commercial deployment timelines have not been specified in the agreement.