Race For Nuclear Barges Just Heated Up
Danish nuclear developer Saltfoss has submitted a letter of intent to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to begin pre-application discussions for its floating nuclear power platform. The company announced the move November 3 and plans to submit a Regulatory Engagement Plan in the first quarter of 2027 for its Molten Salt Power Barge and seaMSR-100 reactor. It plans to combine South Korean barge construction with reactor assembly and integration at U.S. facilities.
That announcement heats up the race to provide barge-based nuclear power in the United States. On September 8, Bluecore Energy, a clean energy startup founded in 2026 by Kofi Asante that builds compact, water-cooled small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) mounted on floating barges, announced the closing of a $50 million seed financing round (WJ, Sept. 18). The achievement follows an initial $10 million pre-seed round after the company emerged from stealth in July.
The Bluecore funding round was led by Austin-based venture capital firm Silverton Partners, with investors including Slauson & Company, Harlem Capital, Precursor Ventures, LMNT and other existing contributors. New investors included companies such as MaC Ventures, Collab Capital, Vanderbilt and Scribble, as well as former leaders of Google, Tesla, Amazon and Uber.
Speedier Pathway
The announcement followed federal initiatives to speed the pathway for such projects. In March 2026, the NRC introduced 10 CFR Part 53, a modern regulatory rulebook designed specifically for advanced reactors. The NRC has been holding a series of public meetings and workshops to support new and advanced reactor designers, developers and stakeholders in navigating the NRC’s licensing process. The latest workshop was held October 28 in Rockville, Md. Saltfoss aims to become the first developer to secure a license under this new framework. However, a letter initiates pre-application engagement; it does not constitute a license application or regulatory approval. Many steps would remain.
Samsung Heavy Industries, Saltfoss’ shipbuilding partner, would manufacture the power barges in South Korea. Reactor assembly, fuel loading and final power plant integration would take place at U.S. facilities. Saltfoss said it plans to expand its U.S. operations to support that work, drawing on existing partnerships with Idaho National Laboratory, the American Bureau of Shipping and other U.S. organizations.
“We are combining a U.S. reactor design heritage proven at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with the world-class shipbuilding and nuclear supply chain of South Korea. This combination ensures that Saltfoss can credibly deliver the first-of-a-kind plant under the new Part 53 framework,” said Klaus Nyengaard, CEO of Saltfoss.
The seaMSR-100 is a loop-type molten salt reactor designed around standardized modules producing 100 MW of electricity each. Multiple modules would allow a single barge to provide up to 600 MW. Potential applications include power and heat for coastal industries, baseload electricity for grids and power for large data centers.
Bluecore Energy’s proposal relies on smaller, optimized versions of traditional light-water reactor technology — the same proven tech that has powered commercial grids and nuclear submarines for decades.
