Lithium-ion batteries, alternative fuels and increased automation are reshaping shipboard fire risk, exposing gaps in traditional firefighting training, equipment and response protocols. Modern cargo and fuel systems behave very differently in fire scenarios, from thermal runaway in EV batteries to unique explosion risks from LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen. At the same time, unmanned engine rooms, reduced crew sizes and complex vessel designs make it harder to detect, access and contain fires using legacy tactics. Regulators and industry are beginning to respond with new IMO guidelines, classification standards and updated port protocols, but implementation remains uneven and often lags behind technological change. These emerging challenges—and the need for realistic training, better ship–shore coordination and proactive investment—will be central themes at the National Harbor Safety Conference in Seattle in March 2026, hosted by the Puget Sound Harbor Safety Committee and the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound.