Gdynia Maritime University

This paper presents the results of research on an innovative, integrated IACMS (Intelligent Integrated Automation, Control, and Monitoring System), developed for energy-efficient operation of auxiliary machinery in ship engine rooms. The system, validated both in the laboratory and during full-scale operation on the MF Skania Ro-Pax ferry, integrates process monitoring, diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and intelligent energy optimization within a unified control architecture. This approach enables a significant reduction in electricity consumption while maintaining thermal safety and operational reliability. Laboratory tests focused on a pump cooling system with PLC and frequency converter control, achieving a 90.5% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional constant-speed operation. During full-scale validation, the IACMS managed the seawater pump via adaptive frequency control (30–60 Hz). Two consecutive voyages demonstrated energy savings of 84.6% and 86.0%, with a daily energy reduction of 0.84 MWh, resulting in a decrease of approximately 0.5 tons of CO2 emissions per day. Additionally, an observed reduction of about 6–7% in daily generator-set energy was recorded during the analyzed period; this vessel-level value is indicative, as the generator supplies multiple onboard consumers. All trials confirmed stable cooling system temperatures, and comprehensive diagnostics revealed no negative impact of inverter control on the technical condition of equipment. The findings indicate that IACMS is a universal and scalable tool for improving energy efficiency and enabling predictive maintenance in ship engine room auxiliary systems. The system was positively validated in commercial operation and certified by the Polish Register of Shipping, confirming its technological maturity and readiness for widespread adoption in the maritime industry. The results pave the way for further deployments of intelligent energy management solutions in shipping, supporting maritime decarbonization goals.

Chronic eutrophication and declining coastal livelihoods in the Baltic Sea drive the search for sustainable solutions such as regenerative ocean farming (ROF). ROF is a nature-based form of aquaculture using low-trophic species like seaweeds and bivalves that extract nutrients from enriched waters. It is framed as a response to combined environmental and socioeconomic challenges, not as a stand-alone technical concept. Despite growing interest, no comprehensive assessment of ROF readiness exists for the Baltic Sea. This study addresses this gap by examining stakeholder perceptions across five dimensions: socio-economic, techno-economic, environmental, regulatory, and social acceptance. Using a series of co-assessment workshops with stakeholders from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, we identify key barriers including weak regulatory frameworks, low public awareness, limited infrastructure, and underdeveloped value chains. We also highlight enabling factors such as targeted training, policy reform, and improved monitoring. Results indicate that ROF remains in an early stage of development across all countries, with Germany showing the highest overall readiness. Technological and monitoring capabilities score highest, while socio-economic, and social acceptance and especially regulatory dimensions lag behind. The findings highlight the need for coordinated actions to build institutional capacities, streamline licensing, and foster public support to advance ROF as a sustainable solution for environmental restoration and coastal economic resilience in the Baltic Sea.

With Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships ( MASS ) slowly but steadily nearing worldwide implementation, this innovative technology’s technical and legal aspects still require resolution. These issues are currently under the scrutiny of the International Maritime Organisation. The authors believe that specific attention should be given to the area of collision avoidance at sea and rules governing liability arising from collisions involving MASS , respectively, the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and the 1910 Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law with respect to Collisions between Vessels. The first part of the study analyses technical issues to identify policy implications for handling the not-always-successful collision avoidance of MASS from a legal point of view. An in-depth examination of the current liability rules applicable to such collisions follows. The paper finishes with a few policy outcomes on the optimal regulatory approach on the international level.

Hydrographic surveys must comply with the IHO S-44 standard. For the most stringent orders (Exclusive, Special, and 1a), 100% seafloor coverage is required, posing challenges in shallow waters near the 1 m isobath. Recent advancements in unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and the miniaturisation of hydroacoustic devices now enable high-precision surveys even in hard-to-access areas. This study presents an analysis of bathymetric data coverage and density obtained using singlebeam echosounders (SBES) and multibeam echosounders (MBES) systems mounted on unmanned surface vehicle (USVs). The SBES survey employed the AutoDron USV, while MBES data were collected with the HydroDron-1 USV. Coverage analysis used a 1×1 m grid. The results reveal significant differences between the two systems. The MBES achieved an average density of 7.71 pts∙m−2 (>94% of grid cells meeting the NOAA- recommended minimum of 5 pts∙m−2). Data of MBES also exhibited uniform coverage, supporting the development of high-resolution bathymetric models. By contrast, SBES produced an average density of only 0.69 pts∙m−2, with a sparse and irregular point distribution. Only 1.79% of grid cells met the recommended threshold, while 63.79% contained no data. Nevertheless, SBES proved effective in the very shallow nearshore zone inaccessible to MBES. To achieve full coverage in compliance with International Hydrographic Organization’s requirements, complementary methods such as bathymetric light detection and ranging, Global Navigation Satellite Systems-real time kinematic surveys, or structure from motion photogrammetry are essential. Integrating these technologies is required to produce reliable and complete seafloor models.

Reliance on GNSS continues to grow across the application space: from critical infrastructure to the burgeoning autonomy sector. At the same time, instances of radio frequency interference (RFI) affecting GNSS are becoming more widespread and can endanger lives with such dependence on GNSS. Currently, GNSS jamming and spoofing has become widespread around areas of conflict, especially surrounding Russia and Ukraine. But this has also spread more broadly and numerous reports, using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) aviation-based sensors, have come out of regions around the south Baltic Sea, significantly away from the current conflict regions. To explore the extent of the RFI, a low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) GNSS monitor was deployed in Gdynia, Poland, which confirmed the presence of the RFI at the Gulf of Gdansk on the Polish coast. This initial effort was extended to deploy networked GNSS intermediate-frequency (IF) samplers around the Gulf of Gdansk on the Polish Baltic coast to further understand and attempt to localize the source of the interference using time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA). TDOA results are presented from the period of April-June 2025, where a circular spoofer was detected and localized, along with a separate jammer. The IF data allowed for the tracking of the circular spoofing signal, giving valuable insight into this emerging threat.