78 Proceedings Spring 2025 Guard deputy commandant for Operations’ and deputy commandant for Mission Support’s strategy of reducing the Coast Guard’s vulnerabilities and being resilient to climate-related impacts through research and assess- ment of technologies. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) is perfectly positioned to address this knowl- edge gap. The RDC began an effort in October 2024 to develop a response guide for alternative fuel discharges and spills beginning with a literature review of news and journal articles, as well as conference proceedings. It also met and will continue to meet with a variety of stakeholders including: • District and sector prevention staff • Captains of the Port • Members from the National Strike Force Coordination Center • Marine Safety Center • National and Regional Response Team members • Oil spill removal organizations (OSROs) • Researchers from other federal agencies and academia • Maritime industry representatives After conducting preliminary research to identify each alternative fuel’s relevant physical and chemical properties—solubility, flash point, specific gravity, and lower explosive limit, for example—and the likely state of matter that it will be in during maritime transport, the RDC and CG-MER will select priority alternative fuels that warrant further research. It will be based on highest probability for spillage in U.S. waterways, highest risk to responders’ safety and health, and potential for environ- mental damage. Once priority alternative fuels are identified, the RDC will review usage trends and determine volumes expected to be transported on U.S. waterways, includ- ing the Great Lakes, and determine each fuel’s existing and/or expected storage locations in U.S. ports. It also will conduct more thorough research into each fuel’s physical and chemical properties, as well as its health and environmental health hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions for handling, storing, and trans- porting the fuel. In addition, the RDC will engage fuel suppliers, shippers, and classification societies to fully capture the risks posed to responders’ safety and health and review vessel and facility response plans for current approaches to transporting, handling, and responding to potential alternative fuel spills. OSROs and other spill responders will be consulted to identify existing mechanical response technologies and strategies for each type of alternative fuel and deter- mine what knowledge gaps exist. Based on available information, the RDC and CG-MER will determine the feasibility of testing the effectiveness of existing oil spill response technologies with alternative fuels at a test facility. If carried out, the RDC will summarize test data, findings, and recommendations for each mechani- cal recovery technology with specific alternative fuels. This essential information will ensure that the pub- licly available reference guide, which is targeted to be released by the end of 2026, will be useful and relevant for federal on-scene coordinators and other spill respond- ers across the United States. Stakeholders for national and area contingency plans and geographic response strategies can also benefit from this response guide. By taking a proactive approach with this research effort, the Coast Guard will improve its readiness for this new and emerging challenge of alternative fuel spills. About the author: Alexander Balsley has 15 years of experience with pollution response research and is currently managing projects for the Coast Guard Research and Development Center. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering from Northeastern Uni- versity and his Master of Science degree in environmental engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts. Endnotes: 1. United Nations. (2023). Review of Maritime Transport 2023. rmt2023_en.pdf 2. Compared to 2008 levels of emissions. This strategy is formally known as RESOLUTION MEPC.377(80), or the International Maritime Organization Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships and includes indicative checkpoints of emission reduction on 30-40% in 2030 and 70-80% in 2050 3. Nicoll, Andy. A Revolution in Marine Fuels: Five Behaviour Characteristics of LSFO Responders Need to Know. | Oil Spill Response. Retrieved October.10, 2024 from https://www.oilspillresponse.com/knowledge-hub/ response/a-revolution-in-marine-fuels-five-behaviour-characteristics-of- lsfo-responders-need-to-know 4. Pålsson, Jonas; Magnusson, Kerstin; Dahl, Mikael; Granberg, Maria E.; Holm-Roos, Malin. Conclusions from the 2022 VLSFO oil spill on the Swedish West coast | International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings (allenpress.com). IOSC Proceedings Vol 2024, Issue 1 Low Sulfur Fuel Oils. Retrieved October 10, 2024 from https://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/arti cle-abstract/2024/1/282s2/502179/Conclusions-from-the-2022-VLSFO-oil- spill-on-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext 5. Mccartney, Georgina. Reuters LSEG | Transport Fuels July1, 2024. New ship ping fuel requirements in Arctic risk worse oil spills, report says | Reuters.) Retrieved October 10, 2024 https://www.reuters.com/business/environ ment/new-shipping-fuel-requirements-arctic-risk-worse-oil-spills-report- says-2024-07-01 6. eia – U.S. Energy Information Administration. Biofuels explained - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Retrieved October 10, 2024 from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biofuels 7. U.S. Dept of Energy| Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. Alternative Fuels Data Center: Methanol (energy.gov). Retrieved on October 10, 2024 from https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/emerging-methanol#:~:text=The%20bene fits%20of%20methanol%20include,of%20flammability%20compared%20 to%20gasoline 8. Elliott, James E. IOSC Proceedings Vol 2024, Issue 1 Alternate Fuels July 1 (Note: International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings (2024) 2024 (1): 252. Alternative Fuel Response Operations: The Evolution of Marine Casualty Response | International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings (allenpress.com). Retrieved October 10, 2024 from https://meridian.allenpress.com/iosc/ article-abstract/2024/1/252/502028/ALTERNATIVE-FUEL-RESPONSE- OPERATIONS-THE-EVOLUTION?redirectedFrom=fulltext
