Testing the Waters: A Day at the Nation’s Largest Oil Spill Simulation Tank
NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration conducted a workshop at Ohmsett to simulate oil spill dispersant use, training responders to evaluate trade-offs in protecting marine ecosystems during real-world incidents.
When an oil spill occurs, responders must quickly decide whether to use chemical dispersants, which break oil into droplets that dilute in the water column rather than remaining on the surface where they can harm seabirds and coastal habitats. NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) recently organized a workshop at Ohmsett, the National Oil Spill Response Research and Renewable Energy Test Facility in New Jersey, to simulate these decisions under realistic ocean conditions. The facility’s 2.6-million-gallon wave tank allows scientists and responders to observe how oil and dispersants interact with waves, providing critical data for spill response planning. The workshop included participants from the U.S. Coast Guard, state agencies, industry, and academia, all working to refine their understanding of dispersant effectiveness and environmental trade-offs.
The training emphasized the role of NOAA’s Scientific Support Coordinators, who serve as principal scientific advisors during federal spill responses and evaluate the potential benefits and risks of dispersant use. During the June 2026 workshop, the coordinator discussed NOAA’s responsibilities as a trustee, focusing on dispersant evaluation, trade-off analysis, and historical data to guide future decisions. The goal is to ensure that responders can make informed choices that minimize overall environmental harm, balancing the risks to surface-dwelling species against the potential impacts of dispersed oil in the water column.
Ohmsett, managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, provides a controlled environment to test spill response technologies, including dispersants, under conditions that closely mimic real-world ocean environments. The facility’s large-scale wave tank enables responders to visualize the behavior of oil and chemicals in real time, allowing them to refine their strategies before an actual spill occurs. This hands-on training is part of OR&R’s ongoing efforts to prepare the nation’s responders for potential oil spill emergencies, ensuring they have the scientific tools needed to protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
By simulating spill scenarios and evaluating response techniques, NOAA and its partners aim to improve the accuracy of trade-off analyses during actual incidents. The workshop highlighted the importance of continuous training and collaboration among government, industry, and academic experts to enhance spill response capabilities. These efforts ensure that when a spill happens, responders can act swiftly and decisively, armed with the best available science to mitigate environmental damage and safeguard sensitive habitats.