Port of Long Beach Signs a First of Its Kind Agreement With MARAD to Explore Nuclear Energy in Maritime

The Port of Long Beach and the United States Maritime Administration signed a first of its kind memorandum of cooperation on nuclear energy in maritime, announced July 22, 2026. Under the nonbinding agreement the two parties committed to explore maritime energy systems integration, including potential small modular reactor technologies, port microgrids, shoreside power architecture and vessel propulsion concepts, together with related workforce development.

The Port says the agreement does not authorize a reactor or commit either party to funding, procurement, or adoption of a specific technology. Separately, BlueCore Energy's lease covers about 10,000 square feet inside the D48 Warehouse plus adjacent parking, shared driveway and submerged mooring areas, filed with the state as a categorical exemption under CEQA.

That filing describes the site as a research and development lab for a non hazardous, zero emission maritime reactor module prototype, an empty steel vessel for sensor and monitoring validation, and states that no nuclear fuel will be stored on site, with fuel testing occurring at Idaho National Laboratory. BlueCore says its initial system is designed for 10 MWe and that it is developing a barge based modular reactor. California has maintained a moratorium on construction and licensing of new nuclear fission reactors since 1976.