Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC)

ITAC is non-commercial and is driven by OSRL as part of our advocacy programme, recognising the benefits of engaging our front-line response staff in industry-focused technical discussion central to developing more effective oil spill response.  We hold an ITAC meeting once per year, hosted in different locations with the meeting chaired by different ITAC members.  We try to blend both international themes with items of regional interest according to where the meeting is being held.

ITAC Terms of Reference

ITAC is a technical forum that was established in 1996 to address oil spill response (OSR) issues of interest to its member organisations and the wider response community. ITAC projects sought to provide advice, technical support, good-practice guidelines and benchmarking on key issues such as new technological developments in oil spill response techniques, training and response capabilities. 

ITAC has evolved over the last twenty years and its model has changed in recent times. Recognising that much of the delivery industry technical outputs are now being channelled through the IOGP/IPIECA JIP and the API projects in the US.  ITAC has now been cast in the role of supporting outreach and communication for those industry technical outputs to reach a broader church of stakeholders in the wider oil spill community.  As such ITAC no longer “delivers” tangible work items but now offers a forum for knowledge sharing and information exchange. 

• Forum for presenting and exchanging scientific and technical information on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (OSPR) 
• Assembling a diverse group of OSPR professionals  
• Articulate industry positions on key international OSPR issues 
• Identify and address high consequence issues that impinge on effective oil spill preparedness and response 
• Develop dialogue and links between the science/academic community and the response community to enhance mutual understanding, improve science-based decision-making, scientific support to ongoing responses, and to promote relevant oil spill research. 
• Engage and encourage new adherents and next-generation interest in oil spill preparedness, response, technology, management 
• Highlight advances and emerging technologies in oil spill preparedness and response

ITAC’s membership comprises the oil industry (i.e. members of OSRL and other GRN OSROs) international organisations (ITOPF, IMO, IOPC etc), Governmental organisations (USCG, NOAA, etc...) R&D institutes (SINTEF, CEDRE, GoMRI etc...).  It also includes academic institutes involved in industry-backed studies and other organisations with a non-commercial interest in improving oil spill response.   

The connection with academia is an important feature of the ITAC model recognising that the industry is a big financial supporter of university-based research but sometimes there has been a disconnect with the sharing of knowledge and outputs from these studies with “industry” which ITAC tries to address. 

For over a decade, OSRL’s ITAC (Industry Technical Advisory Committee) has been at the forefront of fostering collaboration and innovation in oil spill response and crisis management. ITAC brings together specialists, industry leaders, academics, and stakeholders to share knowledge, explore new technologies, and discuss best practices that drive the industry forward.

 This year’s ITAC, held in Fort Lauderdale, marked a milestone in our commitment to excellence and innovation. The event featured keynote speeches, technical sessions, and interactive workshops that addressed the most pressing challenges and emerging trends in the field. Highlights included:

• Keynote speeches by renowned specialists such as Dr. Chris Reddy (WHOI), Michael Ziccardi (UC Davis), and Timothy Steffek (API), who shared their insights on science communication, wildlife response, and policy alignment during crises.
• Technical discussions on cutting-edge topics, including the integration of AI in response strategies, advancements in containment technology, and the future of sustainability in spill response.
• Interactive sessions designed to foster dialogue and actionable solutions among participants.

We are proud to share the presentation materials featured during ITAC 2024. These resources reflect the event’s core mission: to inspire innovation, promote collaboration, and equip our industry to respond to challenges with confidence and expertise.

In 2023, ITAC convened at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)  in Southampton, UK, drawing a brilliant attendance of around 70 participants. The audience included OSRL Member representatives from Chevron, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Occidental Petroleum, alongside international stakeholders such as API, IPIECA, IMO, UK MCA, ITOPF, UK MMO and Cedre.

We were also pleased to welcome former OSRL colleague Scott Read, who travelled from New Zealand to represent  Maritime New Zealand, offering unique insights from both regulatory and response perspectives.

Academic collaboration remains a cornerstone of the ITAC model. This year featured contributions from the University of Portsmouth (UK), the NOC, the University of Essex (UK), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada), and Nova Southeastern University (USA), all presenting their latest oil spill research to the response community.

ITAC continues to be a uniquely non-commercial forum, delivered as part of OSRL’s outreach and engagement programme. The event reinforces the value of connecting frontline responders with technical specialists through open, industry-focused dialogue, a critical step toward more effective global oil spill response.

You can watch a video overview of ITAC 2023 here.

Hosted during the International Oil Spill Science Conference (IOSSC) in Halifax, ITAC 2022 served as a global platform to share cutting-edge research and strengthen operational readiness. The programme reflected a powerful blend of scientific insight, industry experience, and practical innovation.

Attendees heard from researchers and responders working at the forefront of spill science and technology. From coral resilience studies and mechanical recovery assessments to underwater dispersion techniques and responder health, the agenda provided a comprehensive overview of current and emerging issues in oil spill preparedness.

Highlights included:

• A 32-year study on coral damage and recovery from NSU, offering long-term insight into ecosystem restoration

• Technical updates on SSDI, boom design, and water column monitoring from Shell, NJIT, and SINTEF

• Case studies on the Sri Lanka nurdle spill and ship-to-ship transfer planning, showcasing science-informed response strategies

• A responder roundtable featuring OSRL, NOFO, MSRC, CGA, and WCMRC, encouraging shared lessons across continents

We invite you to explore the ITAC 2022 presentations. These materials reflect our continued effort to link research and response, supporting a resilient and informed industry.

To view and download presentations from the last three years of ITAC events, please complete a quick registration. You’ll just need to submit your email address to unlock access to the full content library, including expert insights, case studies, and technical materials from ITAC 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Register to access presentations from the last three years of ITAC.