The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has signed its second memorandum of cooperation with a U.S. seaport to advance the development of small modular reactors to power commercial vessels, ports, and other maritime assets—this time, shifting its attention to the Gulf coast.

The MOC pairs the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas with MARAD to explore SMRs, microgrids, and advanced vessel propulsion systems for maritime applications. Last week, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel, Port of Corpus Christi CEO Kent Britton, and Port of Corpus Christi Commission Chair Gabe Guerra signed the MOC at a ceremony.