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CASTINE, Maine — Maine Maritime Academy will become the first maritime college in the U.S. to offer a major in nuclear engineering technology.
The academy is receiving a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a Center for Education and Training of the Nuclear Merchant Mariner.
The new major, which was approved by Maine Maritime’s board of trustees at its May meeting, will officially be offered in the fall of 2027.
Two years ago, Maine Maritime reintroduced a minor in nuclear engineering, following a $1.5 million gift from alumnus Guy E. Mossman. That gift paved the way for establishing the Endowed Chair of Nuclear and Reliability Engineering, which is held by Paul Wlodkowski.
Reaction to the announcement of the new nuclear engineering major, according to Wlodkowski, has been strong.
“There has been a lot of interest,” Wlodkowski said, “and it mirrors something I’ve seen again and again. The younger generation, with its concerns about the climate, is looking at nuclear as something truly transformative in good ways.”
In 1960, Maine Maritime was one of the first maritime colleges to establish a nuclear engineering program, with a number of its cadets going on to serve aboard the N.S. Savannah, the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship. That program was phased out more than 30 years ago.
The nuclear engineering program at the academy is designed to both capitalize on recent advances in developing small modular reactors, or SMRs, while serving the existing network of commercial, legacy nuclear power plants across the country through workforce development.
According to the Department of Energy, there are 57 nuclear power plants (with a total of 96 reactors in operation). Together, these plants currently produce nearly 20% of the nation’s electricity.
“As it rolls out,” Wlodkowski said, “we’re establishing a broad-based program that will address the workforce needs in the nuclear industry. So that includes, of course, the legacy nuclear industry — a direct pathway for our graduates. And already with the nuclear minor that we re-instituted two years ago, our students are getting knowledge and experience with these fourth generation or advanced nuclear SMRs.”
“Maine Maritime Academy is positioning itself at the forefront of the quickly evolving field of nuclear energy, which has been increasingly embraced as a safe, low-carbon alternative to other energy sources,” President Craig Johnson said. “If there is any chance of achieving the International Maritime Organization’s Net- Zero Framework by 2050, nuclear will have to play a critical role.”
Small modular reactors are widely seen as a way to significantly reduce carbon emissions in power generation, marine propulsion, water desalination and the production of alternative fuels including hydrogen and ammonia.
As small modular reactors continue to be developed, made more efficient, reliable and safer, there is also growing interest in using floating small modular reactor plants to meet growing onshore demand.
For Maine Maritime, of course, there is major interest in the development of small modular reactors to replace the diesel engines used in commercial shipping.
According to figures from the organization Transport Environment, commercial shipping accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, producing about 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Lowering that number is the goal of a new initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration on May 7 to develop small modular reactors for commercial shipping. MARAD’s initiative was proceeded in December 2025 by the U.S. Coast Guard’s establishment of the Maritime Nuclear Policy Division.
“This is an academic program that, you know, appeals to a kind of idealism,” Wlodkowski said. ”Kids are saying what I’ll be studying is truly right for the betterment of society, providing clean and reliable energy.”
“I think that’s a big factor with the kinds of kids who are drawn to places like MMA or to engineering schools in general, a desire to find ways to solve climate issues.” Wlodkowski said.
Wlodkowski acknowledged that some view nuclear energy negatively, but said, “With all of the new developments, more and more kids are saying no, this is a very feasible and promising future way to produce what we need to produce.”
“Renewables are wonderful and there’s nothing antagonistic between nuclear and renewables. What nuclear does provide, of course, that the renewables can’t, is 24/7 reliability,” Wlodkowski said. “And if you look at it by all metrics, taking into account mining and production, disposal, whether it’s offshore wind turbines or the photovoltaics, it’s really, really hard to compete with nuclear.”
In praise of Maine Maritime’s timely leadership in developing its nuclear engineering curriculum, the Atlantic Council, a highly regarded think tank involved in meeting global challenges, recently named the academy a leading institution.