In 2023, NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration kickstarted a project to optimize oil spill response by utilizing uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or “drones,” and strengthen data collection and delivery for oil spill response in real-time.

Last month, OR&R emergency response scientists provided support for 25 marine pollution incidents, including a fire on a cargo vessel transporting lithium-ion batteries in Alaska, a gasoline pipeline spill in northwest Washington, and a chemical explosion and fire in Connecticut.

OR&R and the Coast Guard are working together to enhance and expedite response operations with cutting-edge science that puts eyes in the sky through the use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technologies, such as drones.

So far this year, OR&R has supported 150 incident responses. In November 2023 alone, we provided response support for 28 incidents, including a crude oil spill off Louisiana's coast, a downed U.S. Navy aircraft in Hawaii's Kaneohe Bay, and reports of mysterious tar balls along New Jersey beaches.

So far this year, OR&R has provided support for 141 incidents. During October 2023, OR&R provided response support for 23 incidents, including 16 new incidents in six different states and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

So far this year, OR&R has provided support for 122 incidents. During September 2023, OR&R provided response support for 18 incidents, including eight new incidents in seven different states.