US and UK sign landmark agreement on civil maritime nuclear

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (‘MOU’) regarding the Technology Prosperity Deal.  The MOU includes a commitment to explore opportunities for civil maritime nuclear applications, including by playing a leading role informing the establishment of international standards, the potential establishment of a maritime shipping corridor between the two nations and the strengthening of energy resilience for defense facilities.

The civil maritime nuclear sector includes floating nuclear power plants, which will be shipyard-assembled, affordable, and rapidly deployable power stations that can supply clean, constant electricity and industrial heat directly to customers in coastal markets.

The sector also includes the development of civilian nuclear-powered cargo ships, which are faster, have greater endurance, carry more cargo, and provide a completely zero-emission solution to power global shipping.

Commenting on the landmark agreement, Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER said:

“This agreement between two leading nuclear and maritime nations recognises the economic benefit of civil maritime nuclear and that 2025 is the year it begins to go mainstream. CORE POWER has established close partnerships in both countries to build reactors suitable for maritime use, shape the regulatory environment for rapid deployment, and engage the shipbuilding sector on vessel design.

“CORE POWER stands ready to complete development of the civil maritime nuclear sector alongside the US and UK Governments in a true public-private partnership for our common economic success.”

CORE POWER Board Member and former Chief of US Naval Operations, Admiral (Ret.) John Richardson, said:

“Our two nations have long had a special and mutually supportive relationship across all elements of national power.  Now is the time for our combined expertise, industrial strength, and shared commitment to accelerate the deployment of safe, secure, and reliable new nuclear power in the maritime environment to strengthen our energy security and resilience.”

Notes to Editors:

Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and the UK regarding the Technology Prosperity Deal

Relevant text:

“exploring opportunities for novel applications of advanced nuclear energy, including civil maritime applications, and playing a leading role informing the establishment of international standards, potential establishment of a maritime shipping corridor between the Participants’ territories, and strengthening energy resilience for the Participants’ defense facilities.”

About CORE POWER

Founded in 2018 to address the challenge of delivering clean energy security to commercial customers using maritime nuclear power, CORE POWER is the OECD’s leading developer of new nuclear technologies for maritime applications. CORE POWER’s ‘maritime first’ strategy creates a rapid path to full technology maturity, which minimises the cost of nuclear energy by creating economies of numbers in addition to economies of scale.

Earlier this year, CORE POWER announced LIBERTY, the world’s first civilian maritime nuclear program, anchored in the U.S. Through LIBERTY, CORE POWER aims to deliver a maritime nuclear power installation every 10 days by 2040. This is enabled by CORE POWER’s partnerships with leading U.S. reactor developers, which is opening new pathways for U.S. nuclear energy and maritime leadership.

Headquartered in the UK, with offices in the U.S. and Japan, CORE POWER has teams of specialists in nuclear engineering, marine engineering, safety, security, non-proliferation, and international and domestic standards. CORE POWER’s shareholders and partners include leading ship owners and operators, trading houses, energy companies, shipyards, and shipbuilders.

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