EVENT PROGRAMME

Day 1 (Sunday - 14th January 2024)

 

- Arrival of participants Welcome greetings from the NATO director and NATO partner directors and organisers.

- Accommodation

17:00-18:00 Registration of the NATO Advanced Training Course (ATC) participants.

18:00-20:00 Dinner

 

Day 2 (Monday - 15th January 2024)

 

7:30    Breakfast and transfer

8:30    Registration of ATC participants and officials

9:00    Opening session and welcome greetings from the organizers of workshop, officials and delegations: Prof. Pasquale Daponte & Assoc. Prof. Maciej Klósak

 

Block 1: General aspects of strengthening resilience of maritime critical infrastructure

 

1.1       Protection and resilience of maritime critical infrastructure in Morocco

 

9:30    Ilias Majdouline, Universapolis, Technical University of Agadir, Morocco “Practical aspects of the critical infrastructure protection in the Kingdom of Morocco”

11:00  Coffee break with networking and discussion

 

1.2       Protection and resilience of maritime critical infrastructure in NATO countries

 

11:15  Zdenek Dvorak, University of Zilina, Faculty of Security Engineering, Slovak Republic “Development and perspectives for the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure in Europe”

           

An explanation of the change in philosophy on defence and critical infrastructure protection in European countries, country specifics will be presented and the frameworks of the directives that the European Union has attached will be explained. Key is the understanding of the new principle of strengthening the resilience of critical actors, which is based on the current experience of waging global hybrid wars and the real war in Ukraine. The content of the lecture will involve interactive engagement of individual participants in brainstorming how to effectively build a modern SMART and resilient society.

The protection of critical assets has been associated with the development of humanity throughout its history.  Following the attack on the New York Twin Towers, the defence and protection of critical infrastructure elements has come to the forefront in enhancing the security of society. The gradual evolution brought about the 2008 European Directive and the establishment of an institutional and legal framework in all European countries. The approaches were different, but the objective was the same - in today's globalised and over-technised world, to ensure the security and protection of selected key assets in all sectors. After 2020, following the NATO model, a change of philosophy has been introduced and the task of strengthening the resilience of critical actors has come to the fore. The lecture will present cutting-edge European research projects, cited articles and monographs. The practical part of the lecture will be working with an excel tool for assessing the resilience of a selected infrastructure subject. Finally, perspectives for resilience strengthening in SMART / SAFE city / regions will be presented.

 

13:00  Lunch

14:15  Francesco Romagnoli, Riga Technical University, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Latvia “Risk and Resilience and Life Cycle Assesment for marine critical infrastructures: The theoretical background of LCA and emphasis on Risk and resilience of critical infrastructures”

 

The increasing vulnerability of marine critical infrastructures to natural and anthropogenic hazards necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their environmental impacts and building resilience. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offers a robust framework to evaluate these infrastructures' life cycle environmental performance. The theoretical background of LCA and its potential application in assessing the risk and resilience of marine critical infrastructures will be explored during the presentation. The methodology of LCA can facilitate the development of robust strategies that enhance overall environmental performance and reduce ecological risks related to marine infrastructures in the face of uncertain and evolving challenges.

 

16:00  Coffee break with networking and discussion

16:15  Maksims Feofilovs, Riga Technical University, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Latvia “Risk and Resilience and Life Cycle Assessment for marine critical infrastructures: LCA modelling with openLCA software: exercise for marine critical infrastructures”  (by remote)

           

The practical exercises with LCA software will help to understand how comprehensive evaluation of marine critical infrastructures can be made through the integration of LCA approach, which was introduced previously. The increasing vulnerability of marine infrastructures to various threats becomes imperative for sustainable development and effective decision-making. The LCA software will be used to model the life cycle of marine critical infrastructures and assess their environmental impacts in a case study, further guiding the development of different strategies based on empirical evaluation for enhancing the overall sustainability of these vital systems.

 

19:00  Dinner

 

Day 3 (Tuesday - 16th January 2024)

 

8:00    Breakfast and transfer

 

Block 2: Unmanned Systems and sensor network technology for threats monitoring of maritime critical infrastructures

 

2.1       Unmanned Systems for maritime exploration

 

9:00    Erika Ottaviano, University of Cassino, Italy “A survey on Inspection robots for critical maritime infrastructures”

 

Robotics and automation are started being used in the last two decades as excellent tools for the monitoring, inspection, relief of suitable data related to buildings and infrastructure, for their monitoring and further maintenance, and nowadays they can be considered well accepted. Great attention must be devoted to maritime infrastructures, which are the focus of the talk, indeed the types of robotic solutions for inspection that should be considered can be unmanned aerial (UAV), ground (UGV) and underwater (UUV) vehicles. In this talk, all these types of robotic solutions will be presented and discussed, taking into account their main characteristics, advantages and limitations, also providing design issues. Prototypes will be shown as illustrative examples.

 

10:30  Coffee break with networking and discussion

10:45  Pasquale Daponte, University of Sannio, Department of Engineering, Italy “Sensors and measurements for unmanned systems: An overview”

 

The advance of technology has enabled the development of unmanned systems/vehicles used in the air, on the ground or on/in the water. The application range for these systems is continuously increasing, and unmanned platforms continue to be the subject of numerous studies and research contributions. The speech deals with the role of sensors and measurements in ensuring that unmanned systems work properly, meet the requirements of the target application, provide and increase their navigation capabilities, and suitably monitor and gain information on several physical quantities in the environment around them. Unmanned system types and the critical environmental factors affecting their performance are discussed. The measurements that these kinds of vehicles can carry out are presented and discussed, while also describing the most frequently used on-board sensor technologies, as well as their advantages and limitations. The speech provides some examples of sensor specifications related to some current applications, as well as describing the recent research contributions in the field.

           

12:00 Luca De Vito, University of Sannio, Department of Engineering, Italy “Flexible low-power data acquisition systems for seafloor monitoring”           

 

The lecture in the first part will introduce the motivation for seafloor observation for environmental monitoring. Then, the current technologies and technical challenges for designing and deploying seafloor observers will be presented. Finally, the activity carried out at the Laboratory of Measurement and Signal Processing of the University of Sannio will be described, about the development of low-power data acquisition systems for the monitoring of hydrothermal sites.

 

13:15  Lunch

 

2.2       Sensor network and technologies for monitoring critical infrastructures 

 

14:45  Diego Galar, Luleå University of Technology, Division of Operation and Maintenance Engineering, Sweden “Using robots, DTs and metaverse in inspection, maintenance and repair of marine critical assets”

 

Revolutionizing Defense: Unleashing Digital Twins and the Metaverse for Maritime Mastery.

In the defense sector, the global push for advanced subsea integrity methods is paramount. Preserving marine assets' longevity is vital for defense readiness. Digital twins and the metaverse offer cutting-edge solutions by creating virtual asset replicas. These technologies enable real-time simulations, predictive analysis, and informed decision-making. By integrating data from sensors and inspections, they optimize asset management, ensuring optimal performance and readiness. Despite progress, their full potential in defense remains untapped. Embracing these innovations can revolutionize maritime operations, enhancing readiness, minimizing downtime, and reinforcing national security.

Silent Guardians: Taming Radiated Noise and Cavitation in Defense Maritime Operations

In the defense marine sector, underwater radiated noise and cavitation hold critical importance. Radiated noise impacts stealth, ASW, and sonar performance, while cavitation affects propulsion efficiency, asset longevity, and operational safety. Managing radiated noise preserves tactical advantage, security, and sonar effectiveness. Addressing cavitation ensures optimal propulsion, reduced maintenance, and operational reliability. Both factors directly impact naval capabilities, mission success, and strategic advantage, necessitating effective mitigation strategies for enhanced operational efficiency and asset longevity.

 

16:00  Coffee break with networking and discussion

16:15  Eduardo De Francesco, Se.Te.L. – Servizi Tecnici Logistici s.r.l., Rome, Italy “Fast deployment, marine environments early warning autonomous system”

 

The detection of pollution in the marine environment is typically carried out either by means of fixed buoys or specially equipped naval vessels. The speach will deal with a new early warning system carried by an amphibious rover, capable of carrying out rapid interventions autonomously. The methods for evaluating in real time an anomalous NBC-type situation in water bodies and maritime areas are closely related to the possibility of transporting measuring instruments in situ and therefore carrying out the necessary analyses. This function is currently linked to 4 types of carriers: equipped ships, fixed buoys, mobile buoys and sampling by aerial drones. Each of these methods has flaws. The ship can carry out all the analyzes in real time, but it is expensive, there are few of them, it does not allow rapid deployment, and it cannot operate in shallow waters. Fixed buoys allow real-time analysis, but do not allow rapid deployment, do not normally allow the collection of samples for post-analysis and, even where it is possible to collect samples, there must be an additional method of transporting them to a laboratory where analyzes.

Floating buoys do not hold their position and are difficult to use in shallow water. Furthermore, they are transported by the current, so they move with the same speed as the fluid and, typically in rivers, they always capture the same water. They also present major logistical problems for their deployment and collection. The aerial drone allows for rapid deployment but can carry very limited analysis equipment and take few samples with poorly performing sampling systems. The presentation describes a solution based on an innovative amphibious rover that offers the following advantages: ability to transport an adequate quantity of measurement instrumentation, be equipped with real- time communication equipment, be able to collect a quantity of samples whose order of magnitude is much superior to the aerial drone and therefore the possibility of scanning a large area, all made even more effective by a fast implementation since the rover can start directly from a beach or from an equipped trolley. Given its innovative structure, the rover operates optimally in all intermediate land-water situations, such as ports and bridges but also rivers, coastal lagoons, swamps and wetlands that are impossible to reach by other vehicles. The rover, equipped with sensors suitable for NBC analyses, presents itself as the ideal vector for carrying out checks on critical infrastructures located in complex areas.

19:00  Dinner

 

Day 4 (Wednesday - 17th January 2024)

 

8:00    Breakfast and transfer

 

Block 3: Monitoring, data analysis and structural modelling

 

Monitoring and forecasting of natural catastrophes

 

9:00    Luigi Sinapi – IHO (Director), Italy “Hydrography supporting sustainable development”

 

The speech is focus on the tasks and mission of the IHO, the role of Hydrography today, and then the main challenges through which Hydrography and IHO can contribute constructively to the sustainable development of our Planet. There are three main challenges through which Hydrography and IHO contribute to the sustainable development of our planet: Mapping the oceans, A new and universally recognized way of representing the marine environment: the Universal Hydrographic Data Model S-100, The commitment to the largest initiative ever launched in favor of the Oceans: the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

Hydrography – now more than ever – plays a key role in protecting our Oceans, and for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive Blue Economy. The promotion of hydrography will be one of the main themes of the UN Ocean Decade. From now to 2030, the ocean economy will help create 40 million full-time equivalent jobs in ocean-based industries and create a global gross value added of 3 billion $, doubling the value from 1.5 billion $ in 2016. And, as 90 per cent of all global trade is transported by sea, hydrography and derived products open up opportunities for maritime transports and shipping and marine tourism to developing coastal communities, and reduce the impact of transport on marine habitats, while ensuring safe passage at sea. These are important numbers that make one reflect how important it is to invest in the hydrography sector.

 

10:30  Coffee break

10:45  Sebastiano D'Amico, University of Malta, Malta “Geophysics, proximity and remote sensing to study pocket beaches”

 

The Satellite Investigation to study POcket Beach Dynamics (SIPOBED) project uses remote sensing to detect and monitor the movement of sediments within the Maltese pocket beaches.

Research and development in the downstream Earth Observation (EO) sector is key to achieving reliable and cost-effective monitoring of coastal erosion. We aim to provide detailed estimates of sediment variations through time by using satellite images as well as in-situ measurements such as the use of drone equipped with different sensors and coupled geophysical techniques. We will describe, for validation purposes, how high-resolution Digital Elevation Models and bathymetry data are used. They are obtained by the means of LIDAR-equipped drones both for the submerged and the terrestrial part of the investigated area. Bathymetry data are also collected by the means of marine drones and ROVs.

 

11:45  Henry Vallius, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Finland “Knowledge based maritime spatial planning, coastal zone management, management of marine resources, and environmental assessments – the EMODnet Geology concept”

 

High-quality maritime spatial planning, coastal zone management, management of marine resources, environmental assessments and forecasting require comprehensive understanding of the seabed. In response to the needs already in 2008, the European Commission established the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). The EMODnet concept is to assemble existing but often fragmented and partly inaccessible marine data into harmonized, interoperable, and publicly freely available information layers which encompass whole marine basins. As the data products are free of restrictions on use the program is supporting any European maritime activities in promotion of sustainable use and management of the European seas. EMODnet-Geology project is delivering integrated geological map products which we aim to be user friendly for public administration, research and education, maritime industry, and the general public.

 

13:15  Lunch

 

Modelling and data analyses

 

14:30  Andrej David, Head of Department of Water Transport, University of Zilina, Slovak Republic “European seaports as crucial players in the logistics chains dedicated to the transportation of spare parts for the Slovak automotive industry”

 

Maritime transport is a key mode of transport in carrying bulk, general, and liquid cargo between the continents. This mode of transport is important not only for maritime but also for inland countries. The Slovak Republic is the leading country in car production to the inhabitant in the world. Nowadays, five world car companies have their assembly plans there. Most of the spare parts that are essential for car production are transported by maritime transport on an old trade route between Europe and Asia leading through the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Malacca. All logistics activities are carried out in maritime ports that play the role of logistics hubs.  While the port of Rotterdam is significant for the countries of Western Europe, the port of Koper or the German ports (port of Hamburg and the port of Bremerhaven) are significant for the countries of Central Europe. Some of these maritime ports have already built fully automated container terminals to increase their throughput and reduce the downtimes of seagoing vessels.

 

16:00  Coffee break with networking and discussion

16:15  Joaquin Del Rio Fernandez, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain “Modern technologies enabling innovative methods for marine in-situ monitoring: cabled observatories, moorings, drones and drifters”

 

Ocean monitoring requires high technological solutions to ensure good data quality and endurance of the measurement systems. During this talk we will go through the main observation platforms used today for in-situ ocean monitoring, from the surface, water column and seabed. The ocean is full of technology. In situ or remote observational platforms are gathering data continuously. At surface, ocean driters measuring sea surface temperature, currents and wave parameters are crucial to feed ocean mathematical models used for forecasting, and such in-situ measurements are used for calibration of remote sensing technologies like satellite measurements. On the water column, fixed stations like moorings are equipped with sensors at different depths, from surface, through water column, until seabed, measuring time series at fixed points. on the other side, ocean gliders are able to perform water column measurement of the upper 1500m, navigating during many months and piloted from experts remotely. Finally, cabled seabed stations allow unprecedent knowledge of the environment: without power or bandwidth constrains, such infrastructures provide 24/7 information of the site. Payload of such stations include physical and biogeochemical information from the ocean, including a huge variety of direct and indirect variables, from temperature to underwater noise and images. International coordination to better achieve scientific objectives is crucial, and some examples will be explained like EMSO ERIC, EUROARGO, JERICO-RI among others.

 

17:15  Daniel Mihai Toma, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain “Marine Robotics Technologies for underwater and surface monitoring and actuation: Drones overview AUV, ROV, USV, IOV and others”

 

Underwater marine robotics is becoming nowadays a very useful technology that helps scientists and stakeholders to monitor, sample, and actuate at unprecedented locations in the ocean. These systems have an ever-expanding range of applications. They can operate in deep waters to carry out scientific missions like profiling, mapping, and geological and geophysical surveys; commercial missions like inspecting assets and infrastructure; exploration missions for minerals and seabed mining; and public authority missions like surveillance and search and find (like finding aircraft wreckage). Monitoring networks of cooperative underwater marine robotics can expand our spatiotemporal monitoring capabilities, resolution, and reach, providing the suitable infrastructure to manage data flow from robotic technologies equipped with innovative sensor packages. This talk will give an overview of different types of marine robotics, the challenges of navigation, geolocalization, different types of missions, payload, and applications where such drones arrive where humans do not.

 

19:00  Dinner

 

Day 5 (Thursday - 18th January 2024)

 

8:00    Breakfast and transfer

 

Block 4: Cybersecurity and protection of IT maritime infrastructures

 

9:00    Galya Marinova, Technical University of Sofia, Department of Technology and Management of Communication Systems, Bulgaria “Implementation of IoT for green transformation of a port”

 

The lecture deals with the environmental parameters and the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for the green transformation of a port. The Green deal and the concept of the green transformation are defined.  An overview of the leading green ports and solutions implemented are presented. A case study is considered for illustration. Energy consumption, transport, buildings, air and water ecological parameters are controlled for optimizing their values in a smart and green port. Measurement devices and data collection are described. The development of virtual prototype/digital twin of the port serves to study the multiple IoT installations and scenarios for achievement of predefined goals related to lower energy consumption, lower noise and cleaner air and water. 5G existing solutions are analyzed. The calculator of Ericsson for the return of investment in green transformation of a port is implemented for evaluating different solutions.

 

10:15  Coffee break

10:30  Alan Oliveira de Sá, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal “Cybersecurity technologies for maritime sensors and systems”

           

The presence of cyber domain in the naval environment is growing. Maritime systems are inevitably following the worldwide trends and adopting cutting-edge technologies of Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, and others. The advantages brought by these technologies benefit a wide range of naval sectors, encompassing military and merchant navies, and offshore industries. While cyber technologies provide several benefits to naval systems, they also make them prone to cyberattacks, posing risks to transportation, energy, defense, food and other industries. The consequences can result in environmental, economic and security losses. With that in mind, this lecture will address a set of relevant topics on cybersecurity of maritime assets. First, it will define the attack surface for cyber threats in naval environment. Then, it will characterize attack models to naval sensors and systems. Finally, it will discuss strategies to mitigate cyber threats in maritime systems, ranging from secure execution environment techniques to blockchain technologies.

 

12:00  Lunch

13:45  Roberto Trevisani, GEM elettronica srl, Italy “Radar systems and processing techniques for improved small target detection in coastal and maritime scenarios”

 

The detection of small radar cross section (RCS) targets is one of the most critical requirements for modern radars deployed in coastal and maritime scenarios. This requirement reflects the need to have a rapid awareness about the presence of potential threats close to strategical areas like military harbours, power plants, offshore facilities for oil and gas extraction, etc. The first part of this lesson will overview the state-of-the-art of high-resolution radars working in X-band and Ka-band. The higher resolution leads to better target separation that is a key benefit in dense or restricted areas where close moving objects can be merged together by traditional maritime radars. The performance of these sensors will be analysed also considering different environmental conditions. During the second part of this lesson, modern processing techniques for the detection of small targets in sea clutter will be presented. These include both non-coherent techniques based on constant false alarm rate (CFAR), time-frequency diversity, scan-to-scan correlation and coherent multichannel techniques.

 

15:45  Coffee break with networking and discussion

16:00  Octavia A.Dobre, Memorial University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept., Canada “Identification of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and UAV-Assisted Maritime Legitimate Surveillance”  (by remote)

 

With the upcoming 3GPP Release 18, a new milestone will be reached in the evolution of the 5G New Radio and its progress towards the objectives of 6G. Release 18 continues to include work items focusing on non-terrestrial networks, with the goal of reaching ubiquitous connectivity. The vision of the future wireless network is to integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, enabling enhanced communication in remote and maritime areas, and connecting the unconnected. Meanwhile, the worldwide unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market size is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 13.3% from 2023 to 2030. The UAVs play a significant role in sensing, communication, delivery, inspection and surveillance, with applications to a variety of industries such as defence, construction and retail. UAVs can be integrated in the network, constituting the aerial layer of the envisioned 3D architecture of the future. However, UAVs pose security and privacy concerns, and thus, it is necessary to develop a UAV management technology. In this context, the talk will present an overview of maritime communications, and will introduce a system for the UAV-assisted maritime legitimate surveillance, as well as for the UAV identification. Further, it will highlight open challenges and future research directions related to maritime communications.

 

18:00  Gala Dinner 

 

Day 6 (Friday - 19th January 2024)

 

8:00    Breakfast and transfer

 

Block 4: Cybersecurity and protection of IT maritime infrastructures (continued)

 

9:00    Hugo Plácido da Silva, University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal “Towards occupational health and wellbeing monitoring of maritime operators

 

Biomedical hardware and software is becoming increasingly more pervasive, mostly due to the fast growth and widespread adoption of smart wearable devices. Psychophysiological signals are prone to provide an insight into the subjects’ health and wellbeing state. Wearables have contributed to make psychophysiological sensing a more pervasive and integral part of people’s daily lives, with significant impact in occupational health research. Nevertheless, multiple hindering factors still exist when moving beyond the lab. In this talk we will provide an overview of the current challenges and opportunities in health and wellbeing monitoring beyond the lab. Particular emphasis will be given to novel methodological and biomedical sensing approaches, targeting the integration of biomedical sensing in occupational assessment of maritime operators. Practical examples of hardware and software tools, and their use in real-world problems will be presented.

 

10:00  Patricia Justo Bota, Instituto de Telecomunicações/University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal, “Emotion Assessment in the Wild?”

 

In the landscape of maritime operations, understanding and addressing human emotions plays a pivotal role in ensuring safety, efficiency, and well-being. This talk delves into the depths of emotions, shedding light on their significance within the maritime industry, a domain where decision-making, team coordination, and operational management are linked to human emotional states. We will start by exploring the foundations of emotion theory and understand how emotions influence behaviour and interpersonal interactions. This will be followed by the examination of the state-of-the-art of emotion assessment methodologies, ranging from subjective self-reports to technology-based methods. We will also unveil innovative tools through use cases like facial emotion recognition and physiological signal analysis, demonstrated in an unconventional setting like a cinema. The talk will showcase potential applications and benefits of emotional assessment for maritime operators, including improved mental health assessments, and refined crew training programs.

 

10:45  Coffee break

 

11:00  Iryna Sitak, National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine "Navigating crisis and recovery: The transformative role of maritime infrastructure in Ukraine’s economy" Part 1 - "Maritime Infrastructure and Its Crucial Role in Ukraine's Economy: Challenges and Impact Before and During the Full-Scale Invasion in February 2022.”

           

The maritime infrastructure played a crucial role in Ukraine's economy before and during the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian ports served as vital gateways for the transportation of more than half of the country's total exports and 90% of its grain exports, significantly contributing to its foreign trade and economic growth. However, the invasion led to a blockade of ports, resulting in the paralysis of Ukraine's maritime industry, causing substantial economic losses and disrupting trade activities. The export blockade had severe implications, negatively impacting the profitability of domestic agricultural producers, reducing overall export revenues, and raising concerns about global food inflation and potential famine in regions dependent on Ukrainian agricultural products. International organizations collaborated to address the challenges faced by Ukraine's maritime industry, and through mediation efforts, agreements were signed to ensure the safe transportation of grain and related food products from greater Odesa ports, thus alleviating the global food crisis and its associated consequences.

 

12:00 Natalia Shyriaieva, National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine "Navigating crisis and recovery: The transformative role of maritime infrastructure in Ukraine’s economy" Part 2 - "Rebuilding Ukraine's Economy: Leveraging Maritime Infrastructure for Resilience and Growth"

           

In the aftermath of the full-scale invasion, the significance of maritime infrastructure takes center stage in Ukraine's path to recovery. As part of the rebuilding process, expanding the export agreement to include metal products alongside grain exports emerges as a crucial measure to accelerate economic revitalization. The return of exports of metallurgical products through sea ports becomes one of the most significant economic tasks for the recovery of Ukraine's economy. Strategic directions for normalizing trade logistics during the period of reconstruction and post-conflict stabilization are identified, underscoring the need for a resilient and efficient maritime trade system. Leveraging Ukraine's strategic geographical location and investing in modern technologies and infrastructure improvements stand as essential steps for streamlining port operations and bolstering economic competitiveness. Collaborative efforts with international organizations and neighboring countries are crucial to facilitate international business and support maritime infrastructure development. The lecture emphasizes that maritime infrastructure will serve as a critical foundation for Ukraine's economic resurgence in the coming years, and integrating it into broader economic recovery plans will enable the nation to rebuild its economy efficiently and sustainably, positioning it for a prosperous future.

 

13:00  Lunch

 

Practical training activities

 

14:15  Emanuele Della Volpe, Green Tech Solution, Italy “Marine drones for environmental protection” - onsite practical training activities

 

The lesson will begin with a general description of marine drones and how they are classified as function of their structural and functional characteristics. Then the important issues on the legislation will be addressed concerning the regulation of navigation at sea according to the COLREG72 (International Regulation for collisions at Sea) and the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea).

The central part of the lesson will concern the description of the identification, classification and recovery system of floating marine waste with an autonomous catamaran, with the explanation of the main phases of the process.Waste collection performances will be presented as a function of vehicle autonomy and operating costs and a comparison of the advantages of using this autonomous boat compared to traditional sea sweeping technologies.

An appendix will be presented on the role of artificial intelligence in the operation performance of autonomous marine robots for automatic waste classification and the prediction of floating trajectories with respect to weather conditions. Then the ROV (Remot Piloted Vehicle) underwater reconnaissance system will be described for the identification and classification of marine waste on the seabed which represent the most abundant and hidden part of the environmental problem that impacts on the ecosystem. Finally, it will be possible to attend the operational phases of planning and execution of seabed monitoring with ROVs.

 

16:00  Coffee break

16:30  Emanuele Della Volpe, Green Tech Solution, Italy “Marine drones for environmental protection” - onsite practical training activities

 

Discussion and concluding remarks concerning the ATC – chaired by Pasquale Daponte, University of Sannio, Italy

 

18:00  Dinner 

 

Day 7 (Saturday - 20th January 2024)

 

Departure of the ATC NATO participants