Marine nuclear power equipment (MNPE) is crucial for the sustainable energy supply and carbon emission reduction during deep-sea resource exploitation. However, China has not achieved breakthroughs in the field of civil MNPE, although it has a good foundation in the nuclear and marine equipment industries. Based on the research of MNPE development practices in China and abroad, this study summarizes the advantages and technical sources of MNPE, analyzes future application scenarios and development trends, clarifies the strategic demand and problems of MNPE development in China, and proposes several development suggestions. Currently, MNPE is extending from military to civil use and from land to sea, and its main technical source is compact and integrated pressurized water reactors. In the near future, the equipment types of MNPE will focus on offshore floating nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered icebreakers. To promote the high-quality development of MNPE, it is necessary to clarify the major application scenarios of MNPE in China through top-level planning, formulate regulations, specifications, and supervisory systems through demonstration projects to match with practical development demands, and achieve breakthroughs regarding key technologies such as the construction of marine reactor systems and nuclear power platform assemblies.