Consortium composition

The consortium comprises industrial partners and research and technical development institutions. The composition of partners and the mixture of their expertise and fields of competence ensure that project aims can be achieved with a high level of quality.

Gdynia Maritime University, PL – GMU

The Faculty of Navigation, Gdynia Maritime University (GMU), is the major faculty in Poland focused on academic teaching (on first and second degree studies) of ship officers according to the IMO’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 1978). It is also active in the field of national and international research projects, committed to solving of full spectrum maritime problems. It consists of five departments and its employees are in boards of national and international maritime organizations (e.g. International Maritime Organization – IMO).

The team members of this project are involved in numerous research projects on safety of navigation, namely ship weather routing (ROUTING in ERA-NET Cofund MarTERA-1), autonomous ships (AAWA), and capacity building in the tourism industry (JOHANN). Moreover, they are present in national and international fora such as IMO contributing to the safety of conventional and unmanned ships.

Wismar University of Applied Sciences, DE – WUAS

Hochschule Wismar is a University of Applied Sciences (WUAS), representing the tradition and experience of more than 100 years of education of engineers and consists of three faculties: Engineering, Economics and Design. Presently more than 7.000 students are studying in one of the provided Bachelor or Master courses.

At the Department of Maritime Studies in Warnemünde, courses of studies for ship officers are provided both for navigation and ship’s engine operation for the highest levels of competencies as captains or chief engineers. Additionally HSW offers a Master degree program for the course “Operation and Management of Maritime Systems”. Furthermore, all German VTS personnel is trained and educated in Warnemünde on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport and the German Waterway Authorities. Parallel to the student courses there are also a wide range of professional development courses for experienced mariners customized to the specific requirements of international shipping companies.

Research in the maritime domain is carried out in all fields of ship operation (nautical sciences, engineering including maritime education and training but also for VTS related matters) on behalf of German Ministries but also for private companies as well. Main equipment for training and research projects is the Maritime Simulation Centre MSCW comprising full mission simulators for ship engine operation, ship handling and navigation, vessel traffic services and for safety and security training. The department has been involved in numerous research projects on national and international level e.g. in IAMU-Programs, ERASMUS, several European Framework programs like e.g. FAROS, MUNIN, MARNIS, EMBARC, METNET, METHAR, DISC, MASSTER and others.

NavSim Poland Ltd., PL – NavSim

NavSim is a Polish ocean technology company founded in 2008, currently operating in Newfoundland and BC, Canada and in Poland. The company’s early research and development efforts centred on the development of unmanned ship systems and marine autopilot technology (integrated navigation and control) before its core technology was commercialised as electronic charting and piloting software systems for marine pilots and other professional mariners. NavSim’s most recent product is PC-based electronic chart systems (ECS) that integrates and overlay the full array of available navigational data: this includes GPS, electronic charts, AIS, marine radar and satellite weather, depth sounder and autopilot.

NavSim’s current core product offering is the Argus Portable Piloting Unit (PPU) platform that supports the integration and display of critical vessel and environmental information during high-risk navigational operations—including lock approach and berthing manoeuvres. The first fleet sale of the PPU system was for 65 units to the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority in 2011. NavSim have had continued success with the PPU systems, with a footprint that now spans from Brisbane, Australia throughout Europe, North America and the Caribbean. They have worked with a number of Crown Corporations including the PPA, GLPA and LPA to supply them with PPU systems. In 2013, NATO began using the PPU systems for AUV research, and the Canadian Coast Guard commenced using NavSim’s systems in 2014.

Gdańsk University of Technology, PL – GUT

The Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology of Gdansk University of Technology (GUT) was established in 1904. Academic teaching and scientific research work is carried out within six departments: Ship Structural Mechanics and Strength, Ship Construction Technology, Quality Systems and Materials Science, Theory and Design of Ships, Marine Mechatronics, Ship Automation and Turbine Propulsion Systems. The faculty has great competence in the field of ship and offshore engineering including safety and optimisation of marine transport. Apart from design works for the worldwide industry, over the last 10 years the faculty has participated in multiple international research projects including projects co-financed by programs: 6th and 7th Framework Program, Eureka, EUREKA NEWCOMAT, ERA-NET MARTEC II and most recently ERA-NET Cofund MarTERA-1.

IN – Innovative Navigation GmbH, DE – IN

IN – innovative navigation GmbH was founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the University of Stuttgart. Three of the four current managing directors were active in the working group “Automation of Inland Waterways” within the scope of their dissertations. Therefore, IN has more than 25 years of experience in systems for inland navigation. With approx. 1000 installed systems, IN is the European market leader for inland ECDIS navigation systems (with radar image map overlay). The solutions for land-based traffic monitoring systems now range from small monitoring systems for locks and ports to nationwide complex VTS systems and CSS with a variety of different sensors (e.g. radar, AIS, VHF, RDF, EO/IR cameras, etc.). In addition to the software for traffic monitoring, the simulator VNE (Virtual Navigation Environment) is also available. IN thus offers modular software solutions for all areas of traffic monitoring and navigation. IN currently employs 41 people, with software developers making up the largest group within the company. Furthermore, IN is active in numerous technical committees on a national and international level: Inland-ECDIS expert group, Vessel tracking and tracing expert group (Inland-AIS), DGON, Schifffahrtskommission, VBW Fachausschuss Telematik, IALA (International Association of Lighthouse Authorities).

JAKOTA – Cruise Systems GMBH

JAKOTA Cruise Systems GmbH is a small and medium enterprise established in 2007. The company is known for the development of the world’s very first public vessel data collection, which help organizations delivering better logistic reports. JAKOTA is passionate about crowd knowledge and experts in creating elegant and powerful web applications to do the job and grow options. We are, and always have been, a privately-held company.

Company’s FleetMon is a valuable tool for professionals from the maritime businesses as well as for individuals, ship spotters and enthusiasts. In this project JAKOTA will provide expertise and technical infrastructure for selection of traffic and ship data to test and validate safety criterion models and support the development of scenarios by identifying relevant critical situations (accidents, near misses) and processing of AIS-raw data. Furthermore, the company will contribute to the development of tools to handle transmission gaps and aiming at “spill-over” effects.

Nautitec GmbH

NAUTITEC is a small and medium enterprise and was founded by Hermann Buss and Alfred Hartmann in 2007. Nautitec is operating and managing the Shiphandling Simulator and Training Centre which is located in Leer, Germany. The philosophy of both founders is to support the maritime education at the location Leer as well as to support young students in their aim to start a career at sea! This philosophy is part of the company’s mission.

Nautitec with five TRANSAS simulation bridges offers training courses for seagoing personnel and consultancy for port and maneuvering studies. Main activities in research and development is accurate modeling of ships according to customers specific demands as well as modeling of sea areas and offshore installations for the purpose of simulation, researching impacts of certain factors and circumstances and training applications.