The Port of Long Beach on Wednesday (22 July) said it became the first Port in the nation to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to advance work on development of small modular reactor (SMR) technology to power commercial vessels, ports and other maritime assets. The agreement represents a significant milestone, making Long Beach the first US seaport to formalise a partnership with MARAD to establish nuclear-powered vessels for commercial service. “This first-of-its-kind partnership with MARAD allows us to leverage strong federal leadership and private sector innovation to catalyse SMR technology as we safely and securely support the next generation of shipping,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “We’re building the Port of the Future in Long Beach, where we’ve led in global trade by moving USD 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.” “Under President Trump’s and Secretary Duffy’s leadership, MARAD is taking decisive action to revitalise US shipbuilding and secure our national energy dominance,” said Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “This milestone agreement with the Port of Long Beach 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 builds on momentum from MARAD’s Request for Information on 7 May, issued in the Federal Register, seeking industry input on the development of a US-built, scalable and commercially viable SMR for the nation’s marine transportation system. It also complements the Port’s new lease agreement with BlueCore Energy Inc., which allows the company to assemble, test and store maritime power modules, adding private-sector expertise