Transforming a Maritime Future: Digitalization & Decarbonization
From 26-28 August, the World Maritime University (WMU), hosted the WMU Maritime Affairs Conference 2025: Transforming a Maritime Future: Digitalization and Decarbonization. The conference included researchers, government officials, and international organization experts from around the world sharing their expertise in the maritime field regarding technical, policy, and international convention aspects of significant maritime topics.
The overall aim of the event was to share knowledge in each subject area, fostering mutual understanding and generating both practical and academic insights that can be shared across the global maritime community. The Conference was co-hosted by the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), and sponsored by the Korean Register (KR).
Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., WMU President addressed the participants, welcoming them to WMU and emphasizing the important role of the conference as a global platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration, uniting diverse voices in support of a sustainable future for the maritime industry.
In a video message, IMO Secretary-General and WMU Chancellor, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, underscored digitalization and decarbonization as transformative forces reshaping shipping. He emphasized the need for active collaboration among governments, industry, and seafarers, stressing an inclusive transition that upholds the role of seafarers who remain at the heart of shipping in the midst of technological changes.
In opening remarks by the co-organizers, Dr Jung-Hee Cho, President of KMI, highlighted the organizing partners' shared commitment to innovation and sustainability that will ultimately result in a safer, cleaner and smarter maritime industry in support of the global economy and generations to come.
Expert speakers from key agencies and institutions contributed to the successive three-day programme, which addressed the key themes of maritime digitalization, decarbonization, AI applications, and seafarers in an era of technological development.
Key digitalization topics on day one included maritime digitalization as a business imperative, enabling a harmonized digital infrastructure for international ship transport and advancing situational awareness for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) as the industry moves towards rapid commercialization. Progress in probabilistic safety metrics through scenario-based testing were presented including practical approaches to achieving cyber resilience in line with IACS UR E26 compliance, and methods for ensuring the assurance of autonomous navigation systems. The technical building blocks needed to configure MASS were addressed, as well as operational and risk challenges posed by digitalization with augmented legal solutions, and liability implications of autonomous operations. In addition, speakers highlighted innovations such as ship trajectory prediction using AIS data and hybrid deep learning models, as well as the role of technology and digitization in positioning Africa as a vital player in the future of global shipping.
Day two focused on maritime decarbonization including opportunities and challenges of achieving international shipping decarbonization by 2050 and the importance of global collaboration for marine carbon neutrality through green shipping corridors. Strategies for decarbonizing shipping, including technological and regulatory approaches under the theme Clean Seas Ahead, were presented as well as perspectives on sustainable Arctic shipping. Discussions also highlighted capacity development for climate change mitigation, featuring MTCC Africa’s case study on implementing market-ready technologies that support maritime decarbonization and deliver economic impacts across the continent. Pathways to a green future were presented through the decarbonization of ports under the IMO’s net-zero strategy, as well as perspectives from the insurance sector on shipping’s transition. Technical insights included operational data analysis, energy-saving device (ESD) performance estimation, and lifecycle assessment as a bridge between policy and industry in the maritime fuel transition. In addition, Korea’s Second National Plan for the Development and Popularization of Green Ships was showcased, alongside initiatives under IMO GHG projects that emphasized partnerships for advancing climate action in the maritime sector.
The final day featured in-depth discussions on the evolving role of technology and human capital in shaping the future of maritime transport. The STCW Convention and Code were presented in relation to technological developments as well as emerging trends in maritime AI for digitization and decarbonization. Frameworks for AI-based fuel consumption prediction and ship operation strategy optimization under carbon-neutral regulations were highlighted, as well as data-centric engineering approaches to support maritime decarbonization. Adoption of AI in shipping chartering addressed both hurdles and future horizons. The final session focused on seafarers in the era of technological development, providing analysis on the impact of decarbonization on seafarers’ wellbeing, strategies to bridge the future skills gap through learning technologies, and the importance of a just and inclusive transition for maritime workers. Further discussions included the use of simulation to train future maritime operators and initiatives to upskill maritime instructors through train-the-trainer programmes on alternative fuels.
In closing remarks, Dr. Keyyong Hong, President of KRISO, noted WMU’s unique role in convening experts from governments, academia, industry and international organizations in one place, united by a shared commitment to shaping the future of the maritime industry. He emphasized that sustainability, decarbonization, and digitalization are not optional but essential for the maritime industry and the global economy. Achieving this requires sustained collaboration, inclusive capacity development, and a clear vision of resilience and long-term sustainability. “Together we can build a maritime industry that is technologically advanced as well as environmentally responsible and inclusive,” said Dr Hong.
Following on the 2024 WMU Maritime Week, this year’s event is the second annual WMU conference focused on Maritime Affairs more broadly. The overall aim of the conference series is to share knowledge in pressing maritime technology, policy, and regulation, fostering mutual understanding and generating both practical and academic insights that can be shared across the global maritime community. For more information about the 2025 WMU Maritime Affairs Conference, click here.
