Learning & Capacity Build-Up

This lecture by Capt. Yevgeniy Kalinichenko, PhD and Anastasiia Zaiets, PhD (Odessa National Maritime University) examines underwater navigation systems and control architectures for autonomous cargo submersibles. It addresses how maritime transport faces transformation due to climate change, trade growth, and energy efficiency demands, and how underwater cargo vessels can reduce congestion, enhance safety, and offer energy-efficient logistics. The lecture covers acoustic positioning systems (LBL, SBL, USBL), integrated navigation algorithms using INS, DVL, and Kalman-based systems, and hybrid three-level control architecture for adaptable autonomous mission control.

This lecture by Natalia A. Remzina, PhD (Odessa National Maritime University) explores the cruise industry's role in the Black Sea blue economy. It reviews global innovations from leading cruise lines — Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and MSC Cruises — in sustainability, zero-emission technology, circular economy practices, and green energy. The lecture examines the Black Sea cruise market's golden period (2012: 28 companies, 38 ships) with Odessa and Yalta as top ports, the impact of the pandemic and war on planned operations, and highlights Galataport Istanbul as a flagship blue economy project with its $1.7B investment and underground cruise terminal.

This lecture by Andrii Holovan, DSc. (Odessa National Maritime University) presents the concept and methodology of prescriptive intelligence for smart ship maintenance in the context of the blue economy. It traces the evolution from reactive to prescriptive maintenance, demonstrates the digital system CPMS integrating ACMS and ShipDiMRO, and validates real applications toward low-carbon operations. Aligned with UN SDGs 7, 9, 13, and 14, the lecture outlines a roadmap for future smart ship operations through 2035, emphasizing how digitalization enables sustainable growth and green shipping supports the blue economy.

This lecture by Artur Lupashko (PhD Student at ONMU, Founder & CEO of Ribas Hotels Group) presents Ukraine's post-war port reconstruction as a strategic opportunity to implement cutting-edge digital solutions. It highlights that Ukraine's 14 ports previously handled 130M tons annually with 45M tons of agricultural exports, and that USD 850 million in port infrastructure damage creates a 'clean slate' opportunity. The lecture examines the global smart port revolution — AI & machine learning, blockchain, IoT & 5G, digital twins — and European leaders like Rotterdam, Constanta, Varna, Antwerp, and Hamburg setting the standard for smart digital ports of the future.

This lecture by Viktor Yarovyi examines how smart technologies and blockchain are transforming Black Sea ports. It presents cargo throughput dynamics of major Black Sea ports (Constanta, Odesa, Varna, Batumi, Novorossiysk) from 2018 to 2025 with forecasts to 2030, showing regional resilience and diversification of trade routes after 2022. The lecture analyzes digitalization levels in port operations — AI & predictive maintenance, IoT infrastructure, blockchain document flow, energy efficiency & smart grids, and digital twin systems — and their role in making ports faster, greener, and smarter.

This lecture by Nikiforov Vyacheslav and Khoteyeva Natalia (Department of Economics and Finance, Odessa National Maritime University) analyzes the transformation of Ukraine's port sector through the lens of the blue economy and energy transition. It traces the shift from traditional profit-focused port economics toward sustainable growth models, examines renewable energy shares across Black Sea countries, and presents the blue economy approach for Ukrainian ports — combining economic performance with environmental protection. The lecture advocates for building efficient, low-carbon, eco-friendly 'Blue Ports' to reduce air and water pollution, waste discharge, and habitat destruction.

This lecture by Anatoliy Labin (CEO, Portus Libera Group) provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing Ukraine's blue economy development. It addresses war-induced impacts including port closures and blockades, maritime security risks from sea mines, export disruptions, and environmental damage from the conflict. The lecture also examines long-term structural challenges such as policy gaps, underinvestment in infrastructure, environmental degradation, and institutional coordination issues, as well as sector-specific challenges in maritime transport, fisheries, port modernization, pollution control, marine spatial planning, and blue innovation.

This lecture by Leonid Oberto Santana (Odessa National Maritime University) addresses global maritime emissions challenges and presents AI-based solutions for smart ship routing in the Black Sea. It covers neural network models for predicting fuel consumption, deep-learning algorithms with reinforcement learning for adaptive route optimization, and efficient navigation strategies tailored to the Black Sea's variable atmospheric and hydrological conditions. The comprehensive approach includes alternative fuels (LNG, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen), improved ship power plants, renewable energy on board, and AI-based intelligent navigation systems.

This lecture by Capt. Oleksandr Sagaydak (Odessa National Maritime University) examines the current state and future of blue careers in Ukraine's maritime sector. It presents key figures on Ukraine's maritime workforce — approximately 100,000-120,000 seafarers with 65,000 working abroad — and highlights the growing global demand for maritime officers projected to reach 80,000 vacancies by 2030. The lecture discusses career pathways from bachelor's to master's degrees, including roles such as superintendent, port captain, port engineer, and general manager, emphasizing the importance of higher education in the maritime industry.

This lecture by Veronika Zlatova (Odessa National Maritime University) examines the green port concept and its role in advancing the blue economy. It outlines five key components: renewable energy and efficiency, sustainable transport systems, waste management, air and water quality protection, and smart port digitalisation. The presentation features case studies including the Port of Seattle’s clean energy strategy and Dar es Salaam’s port-city partnerships, demonstrating how ports can serve as clean energy hubs while promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth.

This lecture by Ihor Boryslavskyi (Odessa National Maritime University) explores the role of the blue economy in Ukraine's Black Sea coastal regions. It examines key resort areas — Koblevo, Serhiivka, Karolino-Buhaz, Rybakivka, Kinburn Spit, and Kuyalnik — analyzing how various forms of tourism (beach, cottage, health, eco, water, event, fishing, sports, and gastronomic) impact marine and estuarine ecosystems. The lecture aligns these challenges with UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 13, and 14, and proposes actionable strategies including regional blue economy plans, modern water treatment infrastructure, environmental monitoring systems, coastal development regulation, post-war rehabilitation, and public-private partnerships for sustainable recovery.

This presentation by PhD student Magdalena Bogdanova examines the Ravda Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) as a case study at the intersection of blue energy, tourism, and environmental protection. Located near one of Bulgaria's most popular Black Sea resort areas, the WWTP Ravda demonstrates how wastewater management infrastructure can support both tourism development and marine environment preservation. The lecture covers treatment technologies, energy recovery from wastewater processes, the plant's role in maintaining beach water quality standards, and its contribution to sustainable coastal tourism along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

This presentation by Dr. Mariya Trifonova (Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski) covers the Blue Energy Training program and the Marine Renewable Energy Academy. The lecture examines marine renewable energy sources including offshore wind, wave energy, tidal power, and ocean thermal energy conversion in the context of the Black Sea. It presents training curricula, research methodologies, and capacity-building initiatives designed to develop expertise in marine energy technologies, supporting the energy transition and sustainable development of coastal communities.

This presentation by Zdravko Atanasov introduces IntelliCelestial, an innovative simulation platform for modern astronavigation and AI-augmented star and satellite tracking. The platform combines traditional celestial navigation techniques with artificial intelligence to enhance accuracy and efficiency in maritime positioning. It covers the system's capabilities for star identification, satellite tracking, position calculation, and its applications in maritime education and training, demonstrating how AI can augment classical navigation methods for modern seafaring.

This presentation by Capt. Nikolay Bedzhev introduces the NauticBlue project focused on launching the future of maritime education through simulation engineering and maritime informatics. It examines how advanced simulation technologies, virtual reality, and digital tools are transforming maritime training programs. The lecture covers curriculum development for simulation-based learning, the integration of maritime informatics into educational frameworks, and partnerships between naval academies and industry to prepare the next generation of maritime professionals.

This presentation by Salih Şahin from DOKA (Development Agency of the Eastern Black Sea Region) covers the Blue Economy Result-Oriented Program serving the provinces of Artvin, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Ordu, Rize, and Trabzon in Turkey's Eastern Black Sea region. The lecture presents DOKA's strategic approach to blue economy development including fisheries modernization, aquaculture innovation, coastal tourism development, and maritime transport improvement. It highlights regional economic data, investment opportunities, and cross-border cooperation frameworks between Turkey and Black Sea partner countries.

This presentation by Marine Cluster Bulgaria (MCB) covers the organization's vision for sustainable seas through knowledge sharing, partnership building, and innovation. Based in Varna, MCB brings together maritime industry stakeholders to promote sustainable practices across shipping, port operations, marine tourism, and coastal management. The lecture presents the cluster's strategic initiatives, collaborative projects, and its role in connecting academia, industry, and government to advance the blue economy in the Black Sea region.

This presentation introduces the KOREN project with its motto 'Plant a Moment. Cultivate a Future.' exploring smart farming solutions for onboard ship environments. The initiative examines how hydroponic and aeroponic systems can be integrated into vessel design to provide fresh produce for crew members during long voyages. It covers the technology behind shipboard agriculture, nutritional benefits, crew welfare improvements, waste reduction, and the environmental advantages of producing food locally at sea rather than relying on port-based supply chains.

This presentation by Capt. Georgi Parvanov (Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy) introduces next-generation cargo and stability intelligence systems for maritime simulators. It examines advanced computational methods for real-time cargo loading calculations, ship stability assessment, and stress analysis integrated into simulation environments. The lecture covers how AI and machine learning enhance traditional stability calculations, improving safety training for officers responsible for cargo operations, and demonstrating practical applications in maritime education and port logistics optimization.

This presentation explores the METAVERSE project for building an innovative platform for teaching and communication in university education. It examines how virtual reality, augmented reality, and metaverse technologies can transform higher education by creating immersive learning environments. The lecture covers the platform's architecture, pedagogical approaches for virtual classrooms, student engagement strategies in 3D environments, and practical implementation challenges for universities seeking to adopt next-generation educational technologies.

This presentation by Assoc. Prof. PhD Preslav Peev examines the mission and impact of the Institute of Oceanology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IO-BAS). It covers the institute's research activities across marine biology, ecology, geology, geophysics, oceanography, and underwater archaeology. The lecture highlights key infrastructure including research vessels, laboratories, and monitoring stations, as well as the institute's contributions to understanding Black Sea dynamics, biodiversity, coastal processes, and cultural heritage preservation through over six decades of oceanographic research.

This presentation by Prof. Dr. Milen Baltov (Burgas Free University) provides an overview of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) under Horizon Europe. The SBEP brings together 60 partners from 25 EU and associated countries with a total investment of over €450 million. The lecture covers the partnership's strategic priorities, thematic areas including marine renewable energy, sustainable aquaculture, coastal and maritime tourism, and maritime transport. It examines the regional features of the Black Sea area and the scale of opportunities for blue economy innovation and research collaboration across Europe.

This presentation from Burgas State University covers the SPEER-A project (Strengthening and Promoting Earthquake Emergency Response and Rescue Capacity in the BSB Area). The project addresses seismic risks in the Black Sea Basin through cross-border cooperation, capacity building for emergency response teams, and development of innovative tools for earthquake preparedness. The lecture presents the project's objectives, methodology, partner network, and expected outcomes for improving disaster resilience across the Black Sea region.

This presentation by Antoniya Ilieva (Burgas State University) presents the BlueGrowth CoLLABs project (CB005.3.12.001), a cross-border initiative promoting blue growth through collaborative laboratories and partnerships. The project facilitates cooperation between regions in Bulgaria and Turkey to develop innovative solutions for the blue economy, including sustainable tourism, maritime industry development, and marine environmental protection. It highlights knowledge exchange, capacity building, and joint research activities across the Black Sea border area.

This presentation covers the AlgaeRevive project (BSB00091) by Via Pontica Foundation and partners, focused on harnessing the power of algae for pollution reduction and blue growth in the Black Sea region. The project explores innovative algae-based solutions for water purification, nutrient removal, and biomass valorization. It examines how algae cultivation can simultaneously address environmental challenges such as eutrophication while creating economic opportunities through bioproducts, contributing to a circular and sustainable blue economy.