US Leads IAEA Effort to Clear Legal Hurdles for Maritime Nuclear Reactors

The United States will host the IAEA's ATLAS launch in Washington, DC, to address regulatory, safety and liability challenges facing civilian nuclear-powered ships and floating power plants.

The International Atomic Energy Agency will debut its ATLAS (Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea) program in Washington, DC, on August 26-27, with a preparatory Industry Day on August 25 featuring U.S. nuclear and maritime companies. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright linked the gathering to the department’s strategy of supplying vast amounts of nuclear power for AI data centers and other energy-intensive sectors, emphasizing American leadership in innovation, affordability and security.

ATLAS aims to resolve the complex legal, regulatory, safety, security and liability issues that have stalled commercial deployment of civilian nuclear-powered vessels and floating power stations. The initiative focuses on small modular reactors, whose compact size and long operating cycles could make them suitable for maritime and offshore applications. While the U.S. Navy has long operated nuclear-propelled carriers, civilian attempts such as the 1959 NS Savannah proved costly, and Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov remains the sole floating nuclear plant in service. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the global maritime sector needs reliable, high-density energy, and that SMRs offer a viable path forward while maintaining safety and security standards.