Maritime nuclear specialist CORE POWER and US nuclear technology company BWX Technologies (BWXT) have launched a feasibility study to examine the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) built in shipyards and deployed to coastal locations, according to Splash247.
Feasibility Study Details
The study will assess the technical, regulatory and commercial pathways for integrating BWXT’s mPower small modular reactor (SMR) technology into floating power generation units designed for marine deployment. The mPower reactor is a Generation III+ integral pressurised water reactor with a capacity of 195 MW of electricity and 575 MW thermal output per unit, Splash247 reported.
Unlike conventional nuclear plants, FNPPs would be constructed in shipyards and transported to locations where power is required, leveraging industrialised manufacturing techniques more commonly associated with the maritime sector. The feasibility study covers systems engineering, marine integration, regulatory pathways, operating concepts and techno-economic analysis.
Why Shipyard Construction?
Mikal Bøe, chief executive of CORE POWER, argued that growing concerns over energy security are driving renewed interest in nuclear technologies. “Only nuclear energy can solve both our greenhouse gas emissions and the energy security challenges,” Bøe told Splash.
Bøe said the maritime industry had historically served as a proving ground for new energy technologies. “The maritime industry is where new power technologies grow up,” he said. He argued that deploying reactor technology through floating facilities could dramatically reduce project delivery times. “Installation times can go down to 10 days instead of 10 years,” Bøe said.
Global FNPP Landscape
Floating nuclear power plants are not a new concept. Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov has been operating commercially since 2020, supplying electricity and heat to the remote Arctic port of Pevek using two reactors derived from icebreaker technology. It remains the world’s only operational floating nuclear power plant, according to Splash247.
Interest is growing rapidly. South Korea’s major shipbuilders and nuclear companies have developed a range of floating small modular reactor concepts aimed at supplying power to industrial sites, islands and coastal communities. China has also spent years studying floating nuclear power systems for offshore energy projects and remote regions.
| Country | Status | Key Entities | Capacity / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | Operational (since 2020) | Akademik Lomonosov | 2 reactors, supplies Pevek |
| South Korea | Developing concepts | Major shipbuilders, nuclear companies | Various FNPP designs |
| China | Research & development | State nuclear firms | Floating SMR studies |
| US (this study) | Feasibility stage | CORE POWER, BWX Technologies | mPower: 195 MWe per unit |
Implications for Manufacturing
The project represents an opportunity for shipyards to adopt industrialised manufacturing processes for nuclear components, potentially creating new revenue streams for facility utilisation. By applying shipbuilding serial production methods — modular assembly, standardised designs, and dry-dock construction — the study aims to compress typical nuclear plant construction timelines.
The feasibility study does not yet commit to a production timeline. However, if successful, it could signal a shift in how low-carbon power generation capacity is built, moving from bespoke, land-based projects to factory-built, deployable units. For manufacturing executives, this may open supply chain opportunities in reactor pressure vessels, marine integration systems, and balance-of-plant equipment.
Production Timeline
No production timeline has been announced. The feasibility study is the initial step; further phases would depend on regulatory and commercial findings.
Sources:
