The US took a step that opens the regulatory path for plans to deploy nuclear reactors at sea. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing cooperation in this area.
The bureau, under the US Department of the Interior, announced that this step is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to increase nuclear energy production. The memorandum aims to clarify and accelerate the process of deploying reactors on the country's 1.3 billion hectares of continental shelf.

Matt Giacona, Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said, "For decades, underwater reactor systems have been safely used on military vessels and facilities. This technology could significantly enhance US energy security in the future."
Jeremy Bowen, Director of the Office of Advanced Reactors at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, stated that the memorandum will provide clarity and confidence to applicants.
Russia operates floating nuclear plant
Floating nuclear power plants are attracting global interest. Russia is currently the only country operating a floating nuclear power plant, the "Akademik Lomonosov," in the country's east.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Canada, China, Denmark, South Korea, and the US are also developing designs for small modular marine reactors. The Trump administration aims to quadruple nuclear energy production by 2050.
Environmentalists react
Environmental organizations oppose plans to install nuclear reactors on the seabed. Nick Katkevich of the Center for Biological Diversity warned, "Putting nuclear reactors on old, rusty oil platforms is a terrible idea for marine life."