News & events

Luis McDonough Monroy presented his paper titled ‘New Weapons for Old Battles: The Maldives’ Fight for Sustainable Tuna Management in the Indian Ocean’ at the International Symposium on International Law and the Maldives: Navigating Geopolitics, Trade and Sovereignty’ held on the 20-21 December 2023 in Malé, The Maldives.

Students visited the steel mill of ArcelorMittal, which is situated right at the canal in North Sea Port, connecting the industrial complex to the sea. While already producing the ‘greenest’ steel in the business, the company still has a firm commitment to reduce GHG-emissions and go carbon neutral by 2050. To this end, we learned about many compensating measures, such as a new blast furnace or the brand new and fully operational Steelanol plant, where production gases are turned into ethanol for biofuels.

Further down the road in the port, lies Galloo Recycling Ghent, which processes nearly a million tonnes of steel & metal scrap per year. During a tour of the yard, between various cutting and shearing techniques, we learned along the way about ferrous, non-ferrous and many other metals and alloys which are omnipresent in our daily lives. They all end up at one of Galloo’s facilities, to be recycled for re-use in new applications.

This year again the always well-attended North Sea Port Conference will take place on 23 November, 2023.

During this conference we will dive into socials and economic challenges for ports and industry in Europe. We will also be looking at how cooperation between general seaports in the EU can play a role in tackling this together. How do stakeholders and industry located in the ports work on these challenges? With various experts, each with their own background, we will dive into topics such as geopolitical and economic developments, TEN-T corridors and the energy transition.

Check the programme + register here

During our trip to North Sea Port, we learned about the evolving maritime operations thanks to a presentation by the port company’s CEO, mr. Daan Schalck. We observed the port's transition from a typical land lord port to a business facilitator, emphasizing on cross-border collaboration and a strategic focus on niche markets and value-added activities.

The second part of our visit was a guided bus tour through the port, led by the experienced maritime journalist and guide Jean-Louis Vandevoorde. His expert commentary offered an overview of the port's operations, combining historical context with future aspirations. The tour provided a tangible connection to the activities shaping North Sea Port's future, complementing the information from the earlier presentation, offering us a comprehensive understanding of the port's evolving role in the maritime industry.

Luis McDonough Monroy obtained a diploma with magna cum laude distinction at the Tenth Session of the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea, organized by the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), which was held from 23 October to 2 November 2023 in Yeosu, Republic of Korea.

The Yeosu Academy offers a two-week program for government officials, researchers and other professionals engaging in ocean policy-making, as well as professors or graduate students who are interested in ocean affairs from developing countries. 

This year’s lectures were delivered by Prof. James Kraska (History of the Law of the Sea, Baselines, Freedom of Navigation, Protection of the Marine Environment), Prof. Stuart Kaye (Archipelagos, Marine Scientific Research, International Straits), Mr. Coalter Lathrop (Exclusive Economic Zone, Continental Shelf), Ms. Lea Kolmos-Weis (ISA, Mining Code, International Organizations and UNCLOS), Prof. Kentaro Nishimoto (BBNJ), Prof. Bjørn Kunoy (CLCS and Disputed Areas, Sea Level Rise and Baselines, Case Study: Nicaragua v. Colombia), Prof. Donald Rothwell (Fisheries Regime, ITLOS Advisory Opinions, IUU Fishing) and Prof. Clive Schofield (Maritime Boundary Delimitation, Islands and Rocks). 

Prof. Klaas Willaert gave the presentation "The interests of developing states within the context of DSM in the Area: The forgotten aspect of the common heritage of mankind?" during the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS) Annual Conference, which took place from 1 November 2023 until 3 November 2023 in Tromso (Norway).

At the start of November our students went on their study trip to London, the hub of the maritime world. During a stay of four days, we visited key maritime organizations, gaining insights into their operations and industry dynamics.

At Inmarsat (now part of Viasat) we learned about efforts to enhance positioning accuracy and data transfer for shipping and aviation, which translates to fuel economy and emission reduction. Our visit to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) provided an understanding of the regulatory frameworks governing maritime affairs. At Lloyd's Register we spoke about the standards for ship building and maintenance, keeping the maritime trade as safe as possible.

On Day 3 and 4 we continued at the ICC International Maritime Bureau, about other maritime security concerns, including piracy, fraud, and container security.

INTERTANKO discussed seafarers' well-being, diversity in maritime careers, and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in tanker shipping. Steamship Mutual provided insights into the workings of P&I Clubs, underlining the crucial roles of underwriters and claims handlers.

While in London, our students explored the city's cultural offerings as well, enjoying museums, dinners, pubs, and a casual game of darts. Returning to Brussels via the high-speed Eurostar train, we reflect on a valuable and informative experience in the global maritime landscape.

Stukwerkers, a renowned name in the world of stevedoring and one of Europe's oldest companies in the field, has welcomed the 2023-24 group of Maritime Science students for a company and terminal visit.

In an era marked by volatility and ever-evolving challenges, the team at Stukwerkers is diligently exploring opportunities for operational expansion.
They are also unwavering in their commitment to enhancing work processes and efficiency across their terminals in North Sea Port - Ghent.

Our Maritime Science students had the privilege of experiencing firsthand the multifaceted operations of Stukwerkers.
The visit took them to various strategic locations within North Sea Port, where Stukwerkers plays a pivotal role in serving customers from diverse industries, such as fertilizer, steel, and multimodal container handling.

Prof. Theo Notteboom has entered Elsevier's Top 2% most cited researchers in the "Logistics and Transport" category. Only a handful of Europeans has ever made it this high and he is the only maritime economist on the list. Chime in on his latest podcast/interview with Belgian transport magazine Flows via the following link: https://www.flows.be/mensen/2023/10/flowscast-theo-notteboom-professor-….

Our students visited the 240.000 m² multimodal ro-ro terminal operated by DFDS in the port of Ghent (North Sea Port). They had the opportunity to go onboard the vessel HUMBRIA SEAWAYS and visit the bridge. The students also got a tour of the engine room and loading decks. This ship was built in 2020, has a length of 238 m and carries up to 500 trailers and/or other cargo (such as cars or heavy equipment) between Ghent and Gothenburg (Sweden).

Interested to learn more? Experience it firsthand, by joining the “Maritime Science” master’s programme at Ghent University next academic year 2024-2025!

The longstanding relationship between North Sea Port and the Maritime Institute has once again been confirmed through the extension of the North Sea Port Chair with another 5 years.

The Chair was established in 2016 and makes an important contribution to the high quality education of our interuniversity MSc in Maritime Science programme. The renewed and extended Chair enables chairholder Professor Theo Notteboom to continue his teaching activities. As of academic year 2023-2024, he is also teaching the elective Port Planning course, alongside the general Maritime and Port Economics course.

Are you interested in following an extra programme after graduating?
Are you considering a career switch?
Do you have a passion for the maritime world?
Then the MSc in Maritime Science could be something for you!

Applications for Benelux-candidates for academic year 2023-2024 are still open.
Check our website for more information or contact us through maritimescience@UGent.be.

De Academy Havenbeheer wordt in academiejaar 2023-2024 opnieuw georganiseerd, met de samenwerking van onze partner North Sea Port.

Deze opleiding gaat van start in oktober 2023 en sluit af in maart 2024. U kan voor de hele lessenreeks inschrijven, maar eveneens voor 1 of een aantal afzonderlijke modules die u specifiek interesseren.

De brochure met het programma en de inschrijvingslink kan u hier vinden: Gandaius Academy.

Voor meer info of vragen kan u terecht bij gandaius@ugent.be of 09 264 67 58.

On 28 September 2023, Ward Van Roy defended his PhD “Application of remote measurements for compliance monitoring and enforcement of SO2 and NOx emissions under MARPOL Annex VI”.

This doctoral thesis explores the use of remote measurements for the compliance monitoring of ship emission regulations. Technical solutions and methodologies were developed for the measurement of ship emissions with the Belgian coastguard aircraft. The research demonstrated the effectiveness of airborne monitoring in an operational context. The airborne monitoring has been proven to provide a substantial added value for the port inspection authorities, leading to a more efficient and cost effective enforcement strategy. The airborne measurement were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the international regulations in improving air quality in Belgium and the North and Baltic Sea. The monitoring results also illustrate certain compliance issues. Finally, the thesis formulates recommendations on guidelines for 1) the use of remote measurements for the enforcement of emission regulations and 2) addressing regulatory gaps within the current regulations, these recommendations will be presented to the IMO.

Practical information and registration

After a well deserved summer holiday, the brand new MSc-students of class 2023-2024 were ready for take off on 22 September 2023.

Fortunately the rain could not spoil the welcoming tour thanks to the hospitality of North Sea Port. The guided tour inside NSP Havenhuis was very much appreciated and made many curious to dive into the maritime adventure ahead.

On Thursday 21 September 2023, the faculty of Law and Criminology held its annual Research day.

This was an excellent opportunity for our maritime researchers to present some of their recent work. Frederik Rogiers chose to present his research on the relationship between fishing and military activities in the exclusive economic zone via a poster (https://zenodo.org/records/8333596), while Luis McDonough presented on his research regarding Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and the recently concluded BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) negotiations (https://zenodo.org/records/8382884). Frederik Rogiers also chaired Luis' Panel dealing with multiple and disparate questions of international law.

On Thursday the 14th of September, Maritime Institute researcher and assistant Frederik Rogiers presented his research on "fishing rights vs. military activities at sea" during the "Innovating for Change in Global Fisheries" workshop in Tromsø, Norway. In a maritime security oriented panel, Frederik spoke of how Irish and Norwegian fishermen succeeded in defending their countries' fishing rights against the Russian Navy and whether this is not just a legal tactic under the law of the sea but also one to repeat in the future.

The presentation of Prof. Willaert "Fair share? The interests of developing states within the context of deep sea mining in the Area" was a part of the pre-conference workshop of the ESIL Interest Group on the Law of the Sea. The ESIL Conference took place from 31 August 2023 until 2 September 2023 in Aix-en-Provence (France).

Prof. dr. Klaas Willaert and Dr. Anemoon Soete both joined the MARE conference which took place from 27 June until 30 June 2023 and was organized by the University of Amsterdam.

Prof. Klaas Willaert gave an online presentation "Sharing is caring: Prominent issues and considerations regarding the equitable distribution of deep sea mining proceeds", whereas Dr. Anemoon Soete attended the conference in person.

On 8 June 2023, Prof. Klaas Willaert gave an online guest lecture on deep sea mining for students and researchers of KoGuan Law School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

On this sunny day with excellent visibility, the students embarked out to sea from the port of Ostend in order to visit the WANDELAAR Pilot Station, just off the coast of Belgium. At the pilot station all maritime traffic destined for the ports in the Scheldt estuary area (Antwerp, Ghent, Zeebrugge, Flushing, …) comes in close proximity to pick up a pilot. A skilled maritime professional, who advises the ship’s captain how to navigate the deceivingly open waters safely, between sandbanks, through the meanders of the Scheldt, the narrow fairway of the Ghent-Terneuzen canal and locks. Pilots work on a “hotel like” vessel which is located at sea, as well as fast tender vessels, such as the specialised SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) and smaller jolly-boat to climb the pilot ladder on board of the biggest sea-soing vessels in the world. The visit provided an invaluable experience for the students to observe the essential role of pilots in guiding vessels safely through challenging maritime conditions.

Our students visited the port in Antwerp for a second day. Our first stop was BRABO, a company that provides boatmen and pilots in port areas. We learned that boatmen are responsible for ensuring the safe mooring and unmooring of ships using customized motorboats and winch wagons, while harbour pilots advise captains on the maneuvering of their ships since sea captains do not have local knowledge of the waterway or port.

Next, we visited the newly merged port authority for the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, the PORT OF ANTWERP-BRUGES. At its visitor’s centre Portopolis, we learned about the port's history, the different types of cargo it handles, and how it has become one of the most important ports in Europe.

Our final stop was DP WORLD, operating the Antwerp Gateway Terminal, which is one of the largest container terminals in the Port of Antwerp. We were impressed by the scale and highly automated equipment, ensuring efficient and reliable cargo handling services.

On Thursday the 27th of April, Maritime Institute researcher and assistant Frederik Rogiers presented at the European Society of International Law's yearly Research Forum in Tartu. During his presentation on Russian and security related topics, Frederik spoke of how the Russian Federation seems to be backtracking on some of the more permissive views its Soviet Predecessor developed in its later years and how especially as concerns the right of innocent passage for warships, the Russian Federation seems to be on route to adopt some form of closed seas doctine in its near seas.

In April our students travelled to London – considered to be the maritime capital of the world! During the 4-day visit, the students attended meetings and presentations by some of the leading organizations in the industry, including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Intertanko & Intercargo, INMARSAT, IOPCF, Lloyd's Register, Steamship Mutual, and the Belgian Embassy to the UK. These organizations gave the students an insight into the complexities and opportunities within the maritime industry.

The IMO, as the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing marine pollution, presented the students with an overview of its role in setting international standards for safety, security, and environmental protection. Intertanko and Intercargo, representing the interests of tanker and dry cargo owners respectively, provided the students with an insight into the commercial and regulatory challenges faced by the shipping industry. Inmarsat, a leading provider of satellite communication services for the maritime industry, showcased the latest technological innovations in the industry. The students also learned about the role of classification societies, such as Lloyd's Register, in ensuring the safety and reliability of ships. Finally, the visit to the Belgian Embassy provided the students with an understanding of the diplomatic and economic relations between Belgium and the UK in the maritime industry and beyond.

Overall, the study trip was a valuable experience for the students, providing them with a better understanding of the maritime industry and its importance in the global economy.

Thanks to Prof. Theo Notteboom, the MSc students had the honor of participating in the annual Port conference in Antwerp, where numerous port-related trends and issues were addressed.  Many thanks for this opportunity, it was a very interesting and instructive afternoon!

The students visited Zeebrugge, where they were warmly welcomed by the newly formed fusion Port of Antwerp-Bruges and given a tour of the entire port area. They were able to see the breakwaters into the North Sea and spot a big cruise vessel from the brand-new cruise terminal. The students were also able to observe many roll on roll off vessels (so called “roro”) and car carriers bringing tens of thousands of the newest car models to the "International Car Operators" (ICO) terminal. It was fascinating to see the bustling activity of the port, with ships from all over the world arriving and departing.

Another part of the visit was the guided tour of one of Europe's biggest LNG terminals by Fluxys. The students were able to see how LNG is stored, transferred ship-to-ship, and sent to all of Europe via pipelines. It was fascinating to learn about this important energy source and its role in Europe's energy supply. The students also learned about the various safety measures in place to ensure that the terminal operates smoothly and without incident.

Overall, the visit to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Zeebrugge was an excellent opportunity for the students to learn about the importance of the port and its role in international trade. They were able to see firsthand the various types of ships and cargo that pass through the port and learn about the various industries that rely on it.

Plenty to discover in the innovative maritime field in Antwerp. This time we were welcomed at DEME HQ in Zwijndrecht for an overview of the dredging simulators and all other activities (offshore, infrastructure & environmental).

Along the Scheldt riverbank, maritime and tech companies thrive. SEAFAR is active in advancing remote controlled and automated shipping. Tech of the future – already operational today!

CMB.TECH, a division of the Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) is pioneering various applications around dual fuel use for hydrogen. We visited their publicly accessible hydrogen refueling station for trucks, cars and vessels.

De Academy Havenbeheer wordt in academiejaar 2022-2023 opnieuw georganiseerd, traditiegetrouw in nauwe samenwerking met North Sea Port.

Deze opleiding gaat van start in oktober 2022 en sluit af in maart 2023.

U kan voor de hele lessenreeks inschrijven, maar eveneens voor 1 of een aantal afzonderlijke modules.

Voor de brochure, de inschrijvingslink en praktische info kan u terecht bij Gandaius Academy.

Heeft u een vraag? contacteer ons via gandaius@ugent.be of 09 264 67 58.

Our students had the unique opportunity to visit the newest crane vessel by DEME – the ORION. Usually busy at sea, but now preparing for a new mega offshore project, about which our students got to experience the ins and outs. The ORION is unique, not only because it can handle the biggest loads for wind farm construction, but also because it does so in areas which are inaccessible to a classic jackup vessel. For this purpose, DEME designed and constructed a stabilizing system, which counteracts the movement of the ship, while the windmill monopile is accurately being hammered into the sea bed. Truly remarkable engineering!

In the afternoon our group learned about the ‘Nieuwe Sluis Terneuzen’ project, a once in a century construction site to develop the new lock for bigger vessel access to North Sea Port. From the challenges caused by fresh- and salt water interaction, to the adequate care for the environment and stakeholders, this Flemish-Dutch co-op project is almost 20 years in the making and now coming to fruition before our eyes – ready for the future world of shipping.

On January 24, 2023, Prof. Klaas Willaert gave a lecture on deep sea mining for government officials and diplomats of several countries of the Bay of Bengal at the Egmont Institute.

This lecture take place within the context of an exchange of expertise on Blue Economy.