Shipping

Navigating innovative currents: MASS North Sea MoU Symposium

Join us at the first MASS North Sea MoU Symposium focusing on Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). The event provides a unique opportunity to engage with all five MoU Member States concerning your upcoming projects. It features interactive sessions, expert presentations and networking opportunities.

Event details

Do you have any questions? Contact us at mass@mobilit.fgov.be

Goal

With Norway joining the MoU in May 2024, the MoU now counts five members: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Together, they clear the path for simplifying cross-border projects between them and support the North Sea’s innovative currents. Now it is time to bring theory into action. Policy advisors and field experts from all five countries will answer your questions on USVs through presentations, debates, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.

Provisional programme

9:30

Welcome coffee and registrations

10:00

Opening of the symposium

Mr Bart Heylbroeck, Advisor General, Belgian Maritime Inspectorate, DG Shipping, Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport 

MoU partners presentation

10:15

Mr Jan PAS (BE), Maritime Expert Autonomous Shipping, Federal Public Service for Mobility & Transport

Mr Morten FENGER (DK), Project Manager, DMA Regulatory Future Lab

Mr Goon SCHERES (NL), Senior Inspector & Advisor Smart Shipping, Human Transport and Environment Inspectorate

Mr Rune Magne NILSEN (NO), Senior Surveyor/Project manager for autonomous projects, Norwegian Maritime Authority

Ms Katrina KEMP (UK), Maritime Autonomy Policy Lead, Maritime and Coastguard Agency or
Mr Sam HODDER, Ship Standards Autonomy Lead, Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Debate 1: Procedural and operational similarities & differences between MoU Member States

11:10

Moderated by Ms Hélène SMIDT, Maritime Innovation, Royal Belgian Shipowners Association

Mr Lasse Grøn CHRISTENSEN (DK), Head of Regulatory Future Lab, Danish Maritime Authority

Mr Jeremy JENKINS (UK), Smart Maritime Services Lead, Maritime & Coastguard Agency

Mr Are JØRGENSEN, Senior Principal Engineer, DNV Maritime

Mr Robert HEKKENBERG (NL), Senior Policy Advisor Shipping Safety, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

Mr Jérôme FAIVRE, Head of Digital & Autonomous Ships Rules, Rules Development Department, Bureau Veritas – Marine & Offshore Division 

12:00

Lunch break

Project pitches

13:00
  • Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) & the USV Gobelijn (BE)
    Mr Kobus LANGEDOCK, Researcher at Marine Robotics Centre
  • Van Oord (NL)
    Mr Wim BALVERT, Manager Survey Workshop
  • DeepOcean (NO) 
    Ms Maria TEIGE, Senior Technology Engineer

Breakout sessions

Please note that the contents of the breakout sessions are still susceptible to slight changes. If you wish to amend your choice at any point after completing your registration, please contact mass@mobilit.fgov.be. The change will only be accepted upon a confirmation e-mail.

13:30

Breakout Path A1: COLREG compliance 

Gain insights into COLREG compliance and compatibility from both a navigator’s and a designer’s perspective. How are USVs safely integrated into existing traffic, and how is safe interaction with crewed vessels ensured? 
 

  • Mr Roberto GALEAZZI, Associate Professor, Head of DTU Centre for Collaborative Autonomous Systems, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) 
  • Mr Pieter-Jan NOTE, Co-Founder & CEO, MAHI 

Breakout Path B1: Connectivity & cybersecurity 

Explore innovative solutions for the connectivity of unmanned vessels. Discover how to navigate the future of maritime technology safely and with a focus on cybersecurity. 
 

  • Mr Kevin JONES, DVC R&I, Cyber Ship Lab Plymouth University, or 
  • Ms Kimberly TAM, Lead, Cyber Ship Lab Plymouth University 
  • Mr Tolly ROBINSON (UK), Department for Transport 

14:10

Breakout Path A2: ConOps

  • Mr Kristian BREIDFJORD, Senior Project Engineer, Reach Subsea, or
  • Ms Bjørg Mathisen DØVING, Vice President, Reach Remote

Why is the ConOps essential for USV operations? What level of detail is required to effectively describe your concept?

Breakout Path B2: USV controllers (& ROC layout)

  • Mr Jeppe CASTENSEN, Head of Training, Svendborg International Maritime Academy (SIMAC)) 

Redundant USV control capabilities: How do we find a safe balance between control limitations and redundancy?

14:50

Coffee break | sponsored by KBRV

Project pitches

15:20

  • National Oceanography Centre (UK) 
    Mr Alvaro LOPEZ, Senior Delivery Lead 

  • ØRSTED USV (DK) 
    Mr Jacob Elneff WEHL, Senior Lead Specialist  

Debate 2: ROC organisation & USV operator competencies & training requirements

15:40

Moderated by Ms Hélène SMIDT, Maritime Innovation, Royal Belgian Shipowners Association

Ms Katrina KEMP (UK), Maritime Autonomy Policy Lead, Maritime and Coastguard Agency or

Mr Sam HODDER (UK), Ship Standards Autonomy Lead, Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Mr Svein David MEDHAUG, Business Development Manager, Remota

Ms Claudia HESSEN, Manager Regulatory and Integrity, Kongsberg Maritime

Mr Jeppe CASTENSEN, Head of Training, Svendborg International Maritime Academy (SIMAC) 

16:30

Closing of the symposium

Mr Peter CLAEYSSENS, Director-general DG Shipping, Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport