Long Beach is first port to partner with MARAD on maritime reactors

The Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration has signed a first-of-a-kind memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with the Port of Long Beach, in southern California, to advance the development of small modular reactors for powering commercial vessels, ports, and other maritime assets. With the signing, Long Beach became the first U.S. seaport to form a partnership with MARAD on commercial nuclear-powered maritime vessels. The federal maritime agency had issued a request for information in May seeking industry input on the development of domestic, scalable, commercially viable reactors for U.S. marine transportation.

According to the terms of the new MOC, the Port of Long Beach and MARAD are to collaborate with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Energy, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to determine the operational protocols, safety standards, inspection processes, and best practices for servicing nuclear-powered vessels at U.S. ports.

Port of the future: The Port of Long Beach, which plans to double container volume by 2050, is the home port for two MARAD Ready Reserve Force vessels-the S.S. Cape Island and S.S. Curtiss. It is also one of 18 commercial strategic seaports in the United States. Such facilities are designated to support military readiness and supply chain continuity during national emergencies.

Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba stated that the partnership with MARAD "allows us to leverage strong federal leadership and private sector innovation to catalyze SMR technology as we safely and securely support the next generation of shipping. We're building the Port of the Future in Long Beach, where we've led in global trade by moving $300 billion in cargo annually to support 2.7 million American jobs, and we will continue our tradition of leadership as we partner to advance nuclear energy in maritime and beyond."

Testing innovative technologies: Frank Colonna, Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners president, noted that the MOC "positions the Port of Long Beach to help develop energy sources for the goods movement industry while maintaining our role as the premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade. This aligns well with our track record of testing and demonstrating innovative new technologies at the Port of Long Beach."

MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel characterized the agreement as a "milestone" that "brings cutting-edge small modular reactor technology into active testing. It ensures our maritime supply chains stay operational under any contingency while training the next generation of high-skilled American mariners."

The agreement with MARAD is the latest development in the Port of Long Beach's efforts to advance maritime nuclear technology. Earlier this month, the port signed a lease agreement with BlueCore Energy, which is developing a 10-MWe SMR for installation on floating power barges. That agreement allows the company to assemble, test, and store its maritime power modules at the port.