On 14 and 15 September this year, the forum on future oil spill preparedness was held at the Norwegian Centre for Oil Spill Preparedness and Marine Environment in Svolvær. This is an annual conference aimed at strengthening Norwegian oil spill preparedness and response by creating an arena for collaboration and common understanding of the needs and challenges in the efforts to combat acute pollution. Its objective is to help ensure relevant research and development for operational preparedness. It is intended as an arena to identify and create common understanding of