The global maritime industry is gradually transitioning from petroleum to meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2050 mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by the year 2050. This shift introduces alternative fuels, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, biofuels, and electric, wind, and nuclear power—each presenting unique advantages, disadvantages, challenges and risks for spill and safety hazards. On September 16, 2025, NOAA’s Mid-Atlantic Scientific Support Coordinator participated in an alternative fuels tabletop exercise hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Clarksboro, NJ. The goal of the exercise was to serve as an introduction to the various alternative fuels; identify response and training priorities; discuss recommendations for engaging with the maritime industry’s “safety by design” process; and develop tactical response plans. Unlike traditional oil, these fuels require specialized emergency protocols. For example, LNG and hydrogen are both cryogenic and pose risks of fire and explosion, cryogenic burns, and asphyxiation from rapid evaporation. Methanol is water-soluble and highly flammable, meaning it cannot be contained by traditional booming methods. Ammonia is toxic to humans and marine life; a major release risk is the formation of a harmful vapor cloud. Battery fires are difficult to extinguish, and leaks can release flammable vapors. The exercise included presentations by NOAA OR&R on the current status of alternative fuels, technology readiness, bunkering safety, and operational risks. James E. Elliott, a retired Coast Guard expert and current leader in worldwide marine salvage and emergency response operations, provided an overview of the U.S. National Contingency Plan, the Marine Salvage Regulatory Framework, and policy recommendations. Participants included numerous federal agencies (Coast Guard, NOAA, Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers); state representatives from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland; maritime industries; and non-governmental organizations. This interagency effort successfully identified a unified set of critical needs and goals, establishing a clear framework for action centered on stabilizing incidents and swiftly initiating defensive measures to protect life and the environment.

The NOAA Southeast and Caribbean Regional Collaboration Team (SECART) has released an updated “Guide to Integrated NOAA Disaster Resilience in the Southeast and Caribbean,” commonly known as the “Disaster Guide.” The original guide, published in 2022, was created following feedback from disaster-themed workshops SECART hosted between 2017 and 2019. Participants consistently noted the need for a resource summarizing NOAA’s roles, responsibilities, and resources for disaster preparation, response, recovery and mitigation in the region. The Guide’s purpose is to improve communication and coordination among NOAA offices and partners in disaster management in the Southeast and Caribbean region. Based on user feedback, Version 2 features several improvements: updated contact information for key NOAA personnel involved in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; a more streamlined presentation of NOAA contacts and resources supporting disaster resilience efforts, and a Spanish-language version to better serve partners and communities. Access the updated Guide and related resources on SECART’s disaster resilience website.

The Pacific States-British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force presented its Legacy Award to three OR&R staff members in November. Ruth Yender, Scientific Support Coordinator for Oceania; Doug Helton, Regional Operations Supervisor (retired); and Jordan Stout, Scientific Support Coordinator (retired) were honored for their significant and long standing contributions to the spill response community in the Pacific Basin, as well as nationally and internationally. The award presentation was part of the Task Force’s annual meeting, which was held virtually and attended by approximately 250 participants from five Western states and British Columbia, Canada. This year’s seven award winners—to include intergovernmental and international partners—were described by meeting participants as a spill response “Dream Team.” They were recognized for exemplary work in spill prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, and for their expertise and mentorship. OR&R oceanographer Rachael Mueller, Ph.D. (contracted through Genwest Systems, Inc.), presented a statistical analysis of oil spill fate and risk in the Salish Sea at the meeting. This previously published research (Part 1; Part 2) involved generating 10,000 individual oil spill scenarios to model the potential impacts of spilled oil under a variety of environmental conditions in the waters between Vancouver Island and the mainlands of Canada and the United States.