NOAA Supporting International Emergency Preparedness in the Arctic

February 1, 2021 — An upcoming virtual international response exercise will help improve U.S. and international preparedness for major spills in the Arctic.

Large vessel in icy conditions.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) in October of 2018, about 715 miles north of Barrow, Alaska, in the Arctic. Image credit: U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. is a member of the Arctic Council and participates in Arctic Council working groups, including the Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response (EPPR). From February 9-23, 2021, the next phase of the Arctic Guardian exercise, a hypothetical collision between a cruise ship and an oil tanker, will take place. This follows a Table-Top Exercise held last fall. The exercise will continue into April 2021.

This phase of the exercise will test how Arctic Council nations would request and receive emergency international support. Support could include aircraft, vessels, response equipment, and personnel.

The Office of Response and Restoration represents NOAA in the EPPR working group, but will also be helping to formulate the U.S response through the State Department and the National Response Team.

For further information, contact Doug.Helton@noaa.gov.

Return to OR&R Weekly.

Graphic showing different notification types.
Image credit: Arctic Council/EPPR.
Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:44pm PST