IMO Research and Development (R&D) Forum: Marine pollution preparedness for alternative fuels
From fossil to future: Marine pollution preparedness in the age of alternative fuels
The transition to alternative marine fuels is essential to achieving IMO’s decarbonisation goals, but it also introduces new and complex pollution response risks. Strengthening global preparedness through research, innovation and cooperation is therefore a critical priority.
The IMO Research and Development (R&D) Forum will address the critical knowledge and capability gaps in responding to spills involving alternative marine fuels (liquefied natural gas, liquefied propane gas, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, bio/e-fuels).
Scheduled the same week as World Maritime Day 2026, the forum directly supports the World Maritime Day theme 2026-2027, "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence", by translating high-level environmental policy into practical implementation tools.
Date: 21-22 September 2026
Location: Singapore
The forum, co-hosted by Singapore, will convene global experts, including representatives from least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS), to advance science-based preparedness and response to alternative fuel spills.
The event will be held in collaboration with the SpillAsia Conference taking place in Singapore on 23-25 September 2026.
Please complete the Expression of interest form to receive updates, request more information and ensure you are notified when registration for this event opens: IMO R&D Forum - Expression of interest – Fill in form
Main Themes
The Forum will address six core thematic pillars:
Risk assessment and planning;
Spill behaviour, fate and effects;
Detection and monitoring;
Emergency response and firefighting;
Cooperation and coordination mechanisms; and
Information sources and data gaps.
Each theme will include expert presentations, case studies, panel discussions and interactive working sessions.
Objectives
The Forum aims to:
Improve technical knowledge exchange, information sharing and collaboration between stakeholders;
Strengthen existing and create new, international cooperation frameworks;
Generate a global research and development roadmap;
Create of a centralised knowledge repository, freely accessible by all stakeholders;
Develop a capacity building framework for response to incidents involving alternative fuels; and
Initiation of national and regional post-event follow-up activities.
A full report summarising the outcomes of the discussions, and highlighting opportunities for future collaboration, will be produced after the event.
Participation
The Forum is expected to convene representatives from:
IMO Member States
Maritime authorities and coastguard services
Spill response organisations and contractors
Research institutions and universities
International and regional organisations
Industry associations and fuel suppliers
Environmental non-governmental organisations
Insurance and classification societies
Special emphasis will be placed on participation from least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS).
Registration
Further details on the registration process will be published in due course.
Contact
If you have any enquiries, please contact oprc@imo.org.
More information
The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC 1990) and the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol) call on governments to actively promote research and development to improve pollution preparedness and response, including by encouraging and sharing information.
Read more on marine pollution preparedness and response under the OPRC Convention and OPRC-HNS Protocol.