- History
WMU Maritime Affairs Conference 2026
- Title
- WMU Maritime Affairs Conference 2026
- Date
- 26-28 August 2026
- Venue
- World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden
- Hosted by
- World Maritime University (WMU)
- Co-Hosts
-
Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO)
Korea Maritime Institute (KMI)
- Sponsors
- Korean Register (KR)
Wednesday, 26 August
World Maritime University, Central European Summer Time (CEST)
| 09:00-09:40 | Conference Opening Session | |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00-09:10 | Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. | President, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden, (Welcoming Address) |
| 09:10-09:15 | Arsenio Dominguez | Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO), (Video Message) |
| 09:15-09:22 | Alexandra Anstrell | Chair of the Arctic delegation in the Swedish Parliament, Chair of the conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, Swedish Parliament, Sweden |
| 09:22-09:30 | Jongjin Jung | President, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea, (Video Message) |
| 09:30-09:40 | Sung-Soon Yoon | Vice President, Korean Maritime Institute (KMI), Republic of Korea |
| 09:40-10:00 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:00-10:30 | Opening Session of Day 1 | |
| 10:00-10:15 | (Keynote Speech) Harry Conway |
International Shipping Decarbonization: Why Policy Pragmatism is Critical
Chair, Marine Environment Protection Committee, International Maritime Organization(IMO), United Kingdom
|
| 10:15-10:30 | (Keynote Speech) Hee Jin Kang |
Safety Assurance Framework for Maritime Dual Transformation: Focused on Test Evaluation and Marine Demonstration
Senior Director, Eco-friendly Ocean Development Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea
|
| 10:30-12:40 | Session 1. Maritime Decarbonization Ⅰ | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Aykut I. Ölcer Professor, Director of Maritime Research, Head of Maritime Energy Management (Nippon Foundation Chair), World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden | ||
| 10:30-10:50 | Estela Vázquez Esmerode |
Marine Decarbonization: Assessing the Path from Feasible to Plausible
Head of Impact Delivery, Impact Planning and Portfolio, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Denmark
|
| 10:50-11:10 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:10-11:30 | Junkeon Ahn |
Philosophy for Selecting the Green Shipping Corridors
Principal Researcher, Marine Environment Department, Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA), Republic of Korea
|
| 11:30-11:50 | Wengang Mao |
Physics-Informed Machine Learning for Ship Performance Monitoring and Biofouling Assessment in Support of Maritime Decarbonization
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
|
| 11:50-12:10 | Ivana Melillo |
Synthetic Fuels in Ferry Decarbonization: Strategic Decision Making from an Early Mover Operator Perspective
Energy Efficiency Director, Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization, GNV Group MSC, Italy
|
| 12:10-12:40 | Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes | |
| 12:40-13:40 | Lunch | |
| 13:40-16:20 | Session 2. Maritime Decarbonization Ⅱ | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Fabio Ballini Associate Professor, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden | ||
| 13:40-14:00 | Seong-yeob Lee |
Onboard Carbon Capture as a Bridge Technology under the IMO Net-Zero Framework
Director, International Maritime Research Centre, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea
|
| 14:00-14:20 | Siti Noraishah Azizan |
Governing Green Bunkering: Institutional Challenges in Alternative Fuel Operation in Ports
General Manager, General Manager’s Office, Johor Port Authority, Malaysia
|
| 14:20-14:40 | Jaap Gebraad |
Waterborne Technology Leadership
Secretary General, Waterborne Technology Platform, Belgium
|
| 14:40-15:10 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:10-15:30 | Ragnhild Farstad Høvik |
Skarv - Introducing Ammonia as Fuel in Short Sea Shipping
Senior Project Manager, Technology, Grieg Edge, Norway
|
| 15:30-15:50 | Jeong Kuk Kim |
Review of LPG Applicability for Eco-Friendly Fuel Transition of Korea Coastal Vessels
Senior Researcher, Shipping Logistics and Maritime Affairs Research, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Republic of Korea
|
| 15:50-16:20 | Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes | |
| 16:20-16:25 | Fabio Ballini | Close of Day 1 Associate Professor, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden |
| 18:00-20:30 |
Welcome Dinner (Invitation Only) Location: WMU 5th Floor, Bistro |
|
Thursday, 27 August
World Maritime University, Central European Summer Time (CEST)
| 09:00-09:15 | Opening Session of Day 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00-09:15 | (Keynote Speech) Ivan Valenzuela |
Navigating the Future: MASS Regulations, Safety Standards, and New Training Technologies under the IMO Digitalization Strategy
Executive Secretary of Maritime Affairs & Senior Maritime Consultant, New Business and Development, Maritime Valparaìso (Maritime Private Company), Chile
|
| 09:15-12:00 | Session 3. Maritime Digitalization Ⅰ | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Anne Pazaver Lecturer and ESSP Coordinator, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden | ||
| 09:15-09:35 | Steven Mallam |
Human Operators in Advancing Maritime Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence
Academic Director, School of Maritime Studies, Fisheries and Marine Institute, Canada
|
| 09:35-09:55 | Anastasia Kouvertari |
Human Competency at the Center of Digital Transition: Closing the Skills Gap in Complex Maritime Systems
Strategic Stakeholder & Client Engagement Principal, Marketing, Lloyd’s Register, Greece
|
| 09:55-10:30 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:30-10:50 | Fredrik Olindersson |
Digitalisation in Maritime Education and Training: A Progressive Framework for Integrating Desktop, Cloud-Based, and Full-Mission Simulation
Head of School, School of Maritime Studies, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
|
| 10:50-11:10 | Pelin Bolat |
Cyber Risk Appetite as a Governance Instrument in Maritime Digitalization: From Implicit Posture to Board-Level Policy
Associate Professor, Maritime Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye
|
| 11:10-11:30 | Murat Sümer |
Search and Rescue in the Era of MASS: The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea
The Nippon Foundation Assistant Professor in International Maritime Law, IMO International Maritime Law Institute, Malta
|
| 11:30-12:00 | Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes | |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch | |
| 13:00-14:30 | Session 4. Maritime Digitalization Ⅱ | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Maria Carolina Romero Lares Associate Professor, Head of Maritime Law and Policy Specialization, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden | ||
| 13:00-13:20 | Merisa Lee Gimpel |
The 86% Gap: Bridging Digital Islands for Universal eBL Adoption
Founder & Managing Director, Digital Trade Works, United Kingdom
|
| 13:20-13:40 | Bernardo Melo Graf |
Digital Transformation and the Regulatory Gap: International Maritime Law in the Era of Autonomous Ships and Single Windows
Vice President, Mexican Maritime Law Association, Mexico
|
| 13:40-14:00 | Anna Kaparaki |
Towards a Digital Maritime Ecosystem: Legal Challenges in the Era of Electronic Documents
Senior Lecturer in Maritime Law, Maritime Department of the School of Engineering and Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
|
| 14:00-14:30 | Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes | |
| 14:30-15:00 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:00-16:50 | JOMA 25th Anniversary Session | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Dong Wook Song Professor (Republic of Korea Chair), Director of Academic Publications, Head of Shipping and Port Management, World Maritime University, Sweden | ||
| 15:00-15:10 | Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. | President, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden |
| 15:10-15:20 | Pia Sauerwald | Publisher |
| 15:20-15:40 | Dong-Wook Song |
WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs over the Past 25 Years: Looking Back for the Future
Editor-in-Chief, WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, Sweden
|
| 15:40-16:00 | Albert Veenstra |
The Use of AI in Maritime Business Education
Professor of Trade and Logistics, Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
|
| 16:00-16:20 | David Menachof |
Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Digital Twins for Sustainable and Carbon-Neutral Smart Seaport Operations
Associate Professor, Information Technology and Operations Management; College of Business, Florida Atlantic University, USA
|
| 16:20-16:50 |
Charlott Sellberg
Michele Acciaro Naima Saeed |
Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes Professor Department of Applied IT, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark Professor Department of Management and Innovation, School of Business and Law, University of Agder, Norway |
| 16:50-16:55 | Maria Carolina Romero Lares | Close of Day 2 Associate Professor, Head of Maritime Law and Policy Specialization, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden |
Friday, 28 August
World Maritime University, Central European Summer Time (CEST)
| 09:15-09:30 | Opening Session of Day 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| 09:15-09:30 | (Keynote Speech) Brian Adrian Wessel |
Arctic Navigation – More Accessible, but Not Less Arctic
Director General, Board of Directors, The Danish Maritime Authority, Denmark
|
| 09:30-11:50 | Session 5. Arctic Navigation Ⅰ | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Claudio Aporta Professor, Canadian Chair, Marine Environmental Protection; Head, Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden | ||
| 09:30-09:50 | Umji Kim |
The Co-Evolution of Arctic Shipping and Geopolitics: A Neorealist Perspective
Director, Polar Strategy Research Division Global Strategy Research Department, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Republic of Korea
|
| 09:50-10:10 | Stefan Lundqvist |
Arctic Navigation in the Wake of Russia's War on Ukraine
Pro-Dean/Military Lecturer, Department of War Studies, Swedish Defence University (SEDU), Sweden
|
| 10:10-10:40 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:40-11:00 | Nancy Roberts |
Governance in Action: Marine Safety and Environmental Protection in Canada's Arctic
Canada’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, Transport Canada, Government of Canada
|
| 11:00-11:20 | Adriana Avila Zuniga Nordfjeld |
Conflicting Provisions between the Polar Code and the MASS Code regarding Autonomous Shipping and their Specific Application in Polar Waters
Lektor, Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security, Swedish Defence University (SEDU), Sweden
|
| 11:20-11:50 | Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes | |
| 11:50-13:10 | Lunch | |
| 13:10-15:35 | Session 6. Arctic Navigation Ⅱ | |
| Moderator & Session Chair: Chong-Ju Chae Chair of Steering Committee, WMU Maritime Affairs Conference, Sweden | ||
| 13:10-13:30 | Elena Feditchkina Tracy |
Reducing Risks for Arctic Marine Biodiversity through Improved Ships Voyage Planning and Navigation Tools
Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development, Global Arctic Programme, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Norway
|
| 13:30-13:50 | Jens Heine Grauen Larsen |
International and National Cooperation Pertaining to Arctic Search and Rescue
Arctic Policy Advisor and Head of Delegation for the Kingdom of Denmark to Arctic Council WG EPPR, Danish Defence Staff, Defence Command Denmark and Arctic Council working group “Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response” (EPPR), Denmark
|
| 13:50-14:20 | Coffee Break | |
| 14:20-14:40 | Jorid Fjeld Hammersland |
Sweden’s New Arctic Strategy and the upcoming Chairship of the Arctic Council 2027-2029
Deputy Director, Arctic Affairs, Security Policy Department - Division for Regional and General Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden
|
| 14:40-15:00 | Seong-Yeob Jeong |
Future Perspective on Technology Development for Arctic Shipping
Principal Researcher, Ice Model Basin, Advanced-Intelligent Ship Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea
|
| 15:00-15:30 | Panel Discussion and Q&A: 30 minutes | |
| 15:30-15:35 | Chong-Ju Chae | Close of Day 3 Chair of Steering Committee, WMU Maritime Affairs Conference, Sweden |
| 15:35-15:50 | Conference Closing Session | |
| 15:35-15:50 | Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. | President, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden |
Day1
Conference Opening Session
09:00 - 09:40
-
Welcoming AddressMaximo Q. Mejia, JrPresident
World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden -
Opening RemarksArsenio DominguezSecretary-General
International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Kingdom (Video Message) -
Opening RemarksAlexandra AnstrellChair of the Arctic delegation in the Swedish Parliament, Chair of the conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, Swedish Parliament, Sweden -
Opening RemarksJongjin JungPresident
Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea -
Opening RemarksSung-Soon YoonVice President
Korean Maritime Institute (KMI), Republic of Korea
Day1
Opening Session of Day 1
10:00 - 10:30
Keynote Speaker
Harry Tenumu Conway
Chair, Marine Environment Protection Committee, International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Kingdom
Keynote Speaker
Hee Jin Kang
Senior Director, Eco-friendly Ocean Development Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea
Day1
Session1
10:30 - 12:40
Decarbonization Ⅰ
Moderator & Session Chair
Aykut I. Ölcer
Professor, Director of Maritime Research, Head of Maritime Energy Management (Nippon Foundation Chair), World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Estela Vázquez EsmerodeHead of Program Energy and Fuels Impact Planning and Portfolio, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Denmark -
Junkeon AhnPrincipal Researcher
Marine Environment Department, Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA), Republic of Korea -
Wengang MaoProfessor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden -
Ivana MelilloEnergy Efficiency
Director
Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization, GNV Group MSC, Italy
Day1
Session2
13:40 - 16:20
Decarbonization Ⅱ
Moderator & Session Chair
Fabio Ballini
Associate Professor, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Seong-yeob LeeDirector
International Maritime Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea -
Siti Noraishah AzizanGeneral Manager
General Manager’s Office, Johor Port Authority, Malaysia, Malaysia -
Jaap GebraadSecretary General
Waterborne Technology Platform, Belgium -
Ragnhild FarstadHøvik
Senior Project Manager, Technology Grieg Edge, Norway -
Jeong Kuk KimSenior Researcher
Shipping Logistics and Maritime Affairs Research, Korea Maritime Institute(KMI), Republic of Korea
Day2
Opening Session of Day 2
09:00 - 09:15
Keynote Speaker
Ivan Valenzuela
Executive Secretary of Maritime Affairs & Senior Maritime Consultant, New Business and Development, Maritime Valparaìso (Maritime Private Company), Chile
Day2
Session3
09:15 - 12:00
Digitalization Ⅰ
Moderator & Session Chair
Anne Pazaver
Lecturer and ESSP Coordinator, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Steven MallamAcademic Director
School of Maritime Studies, Fisheries and Marine Institute, Canada -
Anastasia KouvertariStrategic Stakeholder & Client Engagement Principal Marketing, Lloyd’s Register, Greece -
Fredrik OlinderssonHead of School
School of Maritime Studies, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden -
Pelin BolatAssociate Professor
Maritime Faculty, Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye -
Murat SümerThe Nippon Foundation
Assistant Professor
in International Maritime Law IMO International Maritime Law Institute, Malta
Day2
Session4
13:00 - 15:00
Decarbonization Ⅱ
Moderator & Session Chair
Maria Carolina Romero Lares
Associate Professor, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Merisa Lee GimpelFounder & Managing Director Digital Trade Works, United Kingdom -
Bernardo Melo GrafVice President
Mexican Maritime Law Association, Mexico -
Anna KaparakiSenior Lecturer in Maritime Law Maritime Department of the School of Engineering and Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom
Day2
JOMA
15:00 - 16:50
JOMA 25th Anniversary Session
Moderator & Session Chair
Dong-Wook Song
Professor, Head of Shipping Management and Logistics, and Port Management; Director of Academic Publications (Republic of Korea Chair), World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Maximo Q. Mejia JrPresident
World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden -
Pia SauerwaldPublisher
Springer Nature, Federal Republic of Germany -
Dong-Wook SongEditor-in-Chief
WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, Sweden -
Albert VeenstraProfessor of Trade and Logistics Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands -
David MenachofAssociate Professor
Information Technology and Operations Management; College of Business, Florida Atlantic University, USA -
Charlott SellbergProfessor
Department of Applied IT, University of Gothenburg, Sweden -
Michele AcciaroAssociate Professor
Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Denmark -
Naima SaeedProfessor
Department of Management and Innovation, School of Business and Law, University of Agder, Norway
Day3
Opening Session of Day 3
09:15 - 09:30
Keynote Speaker
Brian Adrian Wessel
Director General, Board of Directors, The Danish Maritime Authority, Denmark
Day3
Session5
09:30 - 11:50
Arctic Navigation Ⅰ
Moderator & Session Chair
Claudio Aporta
Professor, Marine Environmental Protection; Head, Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management (Canadian Chair), World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Um Ji KimDirector
Polar Strategy Research Division Global Strategy Research Department, Korea Maritime Institute(KMI), Republic of Korea -
Stefan LundqvistPro-Dean/Military Lecturer
Department of War Studies, Swedish Defence University,Sweden -
Nancy RobertsCanada’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO Transport Canada, Government of Canada -
Adriana Avila ZunigaNordfjeld
Lektor
Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security, Swedish Defence University (SEDU), Sweden
Day3
Session6
13:10 - 15:30
Arctic NavigationⅡ
Moderator & Session Chair
Chong-Ju Chae
Chair of Steering Committee, World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
-
Elena FeditchkinaTracy
Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development Global Arctic Programme, WWF, Norway -
Jens Heine GrauenLarsen
Arctic Policy Advisor and head of delegation for the Kingdom of Denmark to Arctic Council WG EPPR
Danish Defence Staff, Defence Command Denmark and Arctic Council working group “Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response” (EPPR), Denmark -
Jorid FjeldHammersland
Deputy Director, Arctic Affairs Security Policy Department - Division for Regional and General Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden -
Seong-Yeob JeongPrincipal Researcher
Development
Ice Model Basin, Advanced-Intelligent Ship Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Republic of Korea
Day3
Conference Closing Session
16:10 - 16:35
-
Closing RemarksMaximo Q. Mejia, Jr.President
World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
(Day 1) Conference Opening Session
(Day 1) Opening Session of Day 1
(Day 1) Session 1
Maritime Decarbonization Ⅰ
(Day 1) Session 2
Maritime Decarbonization Ⅱ
WMU MARITIME WEEK CONFERENCE 2026
