Webinar: Future Fuels - Risks, Response, and Recommendations

Ship owners and operators continue to seek alternative or future fuels to power their fleets in response to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goal of reducing vessel emissions. Future fuels include liquified natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, biofuels, and others, such as nuclear energy. Lithium batteries now power tugs and ferries. Each alternative fuel presents its unique risks and challenges to understand, mitigate, and manage. Future fuels also bring additional risks to life safety, the environment, and the maritime transportation system. These also pose unique challenges for marine casualty responders.

This presentation outlines recommendations for the future of future fuels, including incorporating experienced marine casualty responders in fuel system design and operational planning processes, revising National and Area Contingency Plans to incorporate alternative fuel response procedures and best practices, advancing regulatory and legal frameworks to address alternative fuel response operations, and properly training, equipping and exercising governmental and industry responders to prepare for the alternative fuel hazards to promote public and responder safety while preventing potentially catastrophic marine casualties.