Maritime Emergencies: What Every First Responder Needs to Know

Maritime emergencies are unlike any other incident that local fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies will face. Ships have their own command structure, specialized crews, unique hazards, and response resources that most first responders rarely encounter—until the day everything goes wrong.

In this episode of The Tactics Meeting, Dan Smiley is joined by Brian O’Neill and Peter Montella, co-authors of Maritime Emergencies: A Complete Guide for Land-Based First Responders. Together they discuss why traditional emergency response doesn’t always translate to the waterfront and how agencies can better prepare before the next ship fire, hazardous materials incident, or port emergency.

Topics include:

• Why ship fires require a different response strategy
• Unified Command and the role of the vessel’s master
• The importance of Qualified Individuals (QIs) and Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF) teams
• Electric vehicle fires aboard car carriers
• Port and vessel familiarization for first responders
• Common mistakes that can make a maritime incident worse
• Practical steps local agencies can take to improve preparedness today

Whether you’re a firefighter, emergency manager, law enforcement officer, Coast Guard member, port professional, or simply interested in maritime response, this episode provides valuable insights from two nationally recognized experts who have trained thousands of first responders across the United States.

Guest: Brian O’Neill & Peter Montella
Book: Maritime Emergencies: A Complete Guide for Land-Based First Responders

For more episodes, training opportunities, and emergency management resources, visit https://terminus.us.