On 10 March 2026, COST Action DeWaTra – Decarbonising Waterborne Transportation (CA23159) organised the webinar “Next-Gen Shipping – Autonomous, Sustainable, and Regulated.” The event was held within Working Group 4 (WG4) – Renewable Energy Contributions to Ship Energy Efficiency and brought together almost 50 participants from academia, industry, and the wider maritime community.
The webinar highlighted the challenges and solutions for modernizing maritime operations, focusing on integrating new technologies, adapting to port conditions, and ensuring safe and efficient navigation. It emphasized the importance of coordination among crews, port operators, and regulators to maintain reliability, operational effectiveness, and readiness.
The example of NYK shows how innovations can be adopted without risking crew safety or operational stability. It also highlights that decarbonization policies encourage the development of ships powered by renewable energy, helping secure a sustainable, technologically advanced future for the maritime industry.
Flow Chart Diagram: How the Themes of Next-Gen Shipping Are Connected
This approach integrates autonomy, reliability, and sustainability into daily maritime operations, illustrating how technology, regulation, and policy collectively shape the next generation of shipping.
The webinar featured contributions from experts representing academia and industry:
- Prof. Dr. Rino Bosnjak, University of Split – Faculty of Maritime Studies
- Nemanja Pudar, MSc, University of Montenegro – Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor
- Dr. Tomislav Bukša, Head of Technical Innovation & Fleet Development, Jadrolinija
- Krešimir Dogaš, Master Mariner, NYK Shipmanagement PTE LTD
The presentations provided valuable perspectives on technological innovation, operational challenges, and policy developments shaping the transition toward more sustainable maritime transport.
This activity was carried out within COST Action DeWaTra – Decarbonising Waterborne Transportation (CA23159).