Maritime Institute

The Maritime Institute was established in 1984 with the following objectives:

  1. to conduct legal and multidisciplinary research with a focus on oceans and ocean related activities;
  2. to support education in the relevant fields;
  3. to organize workshops, conferences and symposia;
  4. to provide consultancy to non-academic actors (government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector).

 

Bib Braunschool

The mission of the Maritime Institute follows the mission of Ghent University and reflects a commitment to conducting independent, critical, novel and socially relevant research, as well as contributing to the internationalization of education and research.

The Maritime Institute strives to produce high-quality research output by publishing in peer reviewed international journals and books. It prioritizes an attractive research environment for its staff and for foreign guest researchers.

Angelo Goethals
Event

PhD defence Angelo Goethals 11/03/2025

On Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 5 p.m., Angelo Goethals will defend his PhD, titled: “The legal framework for (inter)connecting the Belgian offshore wind farms”.

The offshore electricity system in the Belgian part of the North Sea is evolving, with projects like Triton and Nautilus aiming to connect future wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth Zone to other countries. This dissertation investigates two key questions: (1) How can the current legal framework for connecting the Belgian offshore wind energy farms to the Belgian transmission system be assessed?, and (2) How can the current legal framework for interconnecting the Belgian offshore wind energy farms to the grids of other European states be assessed? It focuses on three pillars: grid development and integration, market issues, and planning and authorization. The study assesses whether the framework provides sufficient legal certainty and addresses future needs. Through legal and comparative analysis with the Netherlands and the UK, the research concludes the framework works well for current projects but lacks comprehensiveness for future ones. To address this, a more sustainable and future-proof legal framework is recommended. (Link to the Research pitch)

Practical information and registration link

Research