News & events

On 19 May 2026, Frederik Rogiers (PhD researcher and teaching assistant) delivered a guest lecture on the law of naval warfare as part of the 28th edition of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) lecture series, organised by the Belgian Red Cross in Mechelen. The session brought together a diverse audience of students, legal practitioners, government officials, and participants without a legal background. In this setting, the lecture explored the growing relevance of international humanitarian law in the maritime domain, particularly in light of today’s evolving geopolitical context. Key topics addressed during the lecture included: the application of international humanitarian law at sea and its relationship with the law of the sea, means and methods of naval warfare including the use of exclusion zones, blockade, mines and submarines, as well as the importance of soft law instruments such as the San Remo and Newport Manual.

On 21 April 2026, Frederik Rogiers (PhD researcher and teaching assistant) delivered a guest lecture at HZ University of Applied Sciences in Vlissingen, addressed to students enrolled in the four-year Bachelor programme to become a Maritime Officer (HBO Maritiem Officier). His lecture focused on the growing importance of maritime security in today’s geopolitical and economic environment. As future maritime officers, the students were introduced to the complex realities they may encounter in their professional careers at sea, including the increasing number of maritime security threats from piracy and smuggling to hybrid and state-led activities; the legal framework governing maritime operations both in peace and in times of conflict, current challenges such as the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and the rise of "shadow fleets", as well as the resurgence of naval warfare. The lecture aimed to show that modern maritime professionals must operate at the intersection of technical, economic, and legal considerations - reflecting the increasingly complex environment in which global shipping takes place.

This past Monday, on the 21st of April, our MSc students participated in the first Port of Antwerp Bruges Ideathon. Together with students from other institutions, they tackled questions related to sustainability and innovation. One of our students in particular, Mamuna Sheikh, in a group with two students from other universities, managed to impress the Jury with the “Future Trees” concept, addressed the growing sustainability compliance burden by proposing an innovation hub where companies, institutions and regulators collaborate to co‑create practical and scalable solutions. At the end of the day, they were awarded first place, a remarkable achievement that highlights the quality, ambition and real‑world impact of our students’ work.

Would you like to take part in inspiring events like this and work on real challenges with industry partners? Applications for the next academic year are open until 30 June via https://maritimescience.ugent.be/how-to-apply. 

Join us and turn ideas into impact.

Do you want to become the next CEO, director of maritime operations, sustainability officer, legal expert or maritime consultant of one of the world's leading shipowners, terminal operators or port authorities? With this study programme under your belt, anything is possible!

Check the testimonals from some of our alumni and learn how they carved their career path through the MSc in Maritime Science programme!

Applications are open for academic year 2026-2027. Do not hesitate and get on board for this maritime adventure. Check the criteria and application procedure or contact us: maritimescience@ugent.be.

Big, bigger, biggest at Port of Antwerp-Bruges!

The day started at the Kieldrecht Lock, the largest lock in the world. Watching vessels transit through the lock showed how this critical infrastructure supports the continuous flow of maritime traffic in and out of the port. The visit also created an opportunity to reconnect with our alumnus, now himself working at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, who shared insights from his professional experience after he finished this Maritime Science programme.

We continued with a closer look at innovation in port operations through a visit to a fully electric tugboat – the VOLTA. On board, the students gained a better understanding of how sustainability and supporting firefighting activities is being implemented in the port.

In the afternoon, the students visited MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET), the largest container terminal in Europe. Driving through the extensive container yard illustrated the scale of operations, with straddle carriers moving continuously between stacks. The visit highlighted the importance of intense planning & its software components, as well as ongoing and future plans for further expansion of the terminal.

Experiencing truly world class engineering and port activity – made possible through the Maritime Science programme.

Maritime Science students once again set course for Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port. The goal for the two day visit was the opportunity to engage with industry professionals operating at the heart of the port and gain practical insights.

During a meeting at FDR | Risk & Insurance, students discussed the complexities of risk in shipping and highlighted the essential role brokers play in insurance, ultimately safeguarding international business.

The program also included a visit at the offices of Maersk, where over 800 people work 24/7 to ship goods in containers across the globe. Learning how such a major player facilitates the movement of a significant share of global goods helped students better understand the scale and interconnectedness of modern supply chains.

A unique experience was the visit to APM Terminals, where students observed autonomous port operations from both quay and waterside. The maritime future is already reality in Rotterdam!

At Lineage (Kloosterboer), students visited the company’s cold storage facilities to see how temperature-controlled logistics supports international food supply chains. Products such as meat, seafood, vegetables and prepared foods are stored under strictly regulated refrigerated or frozen conditions before being distributed to retailers across Europe. The visit provided a practical view of how cold chain logistics helps maintain product quality and food safety during global maritime transport, until they arrive at a supermarket near you!

Lineage, a US company, which acquired Kloosterboer in 2021, is now the world’s largest temperature-controlled logistics provider. The company now operates more than 450 facilities around the world.

Maritime Science students visited several maritime companies in the Port of Ostend.

The morning started at VLIZ right by the sea. Students were introduced to marine research and the scientific equipment and material used in the North Sea. The visit also highlighted the broader ecosystem of the InnovOcean campus, where governmental and non-governmental organisations work alongside policymakers to protect marine life and support sustainable decision-making and legal frameworks.

We continued at RelyOn Belgium where instructors demonstrated a range of scenario-based offshore and maritime safety trainings. Particular attention was given to multi-threat situations. The immersive training setups realistically reflect the challenges of offshore workplaces.

In the afternoon, students were welcomed by Maritime Science alumni at GEOxyz and exchanged real career path experiences. The visit allowed for a close look at the company’s diverse fleet of survey vessels. In Ostend, GEOxyz’s in-house developed Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) are monitored and operated from their Remote Control Center (ROC).

The maritime profession offers a broad range of topics of interest: research, policy, safety and technological innovation to just name a few we got a taste for that day. Still more to come this semester!

Maritime Science students from Universiteit Gent spent a full day in Zeebrugge.

We started at International Car Operators (ICO), the largest car terminal in Europe. The sheer amount of vehicles waiting for distribution was impressive. At the Vehicle Processing Center, we saw the wide range of on site services provided to car manufacturers. From technical checks to final adjustments, every vehicle is carefully prepared before heading to dealerships across Europe and beyond.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges warmly welcomed us over lunch and offered both a historical and a helicopter view of the port. The port authority works, among other things, on sustainable development, strategic positioning and business facilitation in an increasingly complex international environment. These insights helped our students better understand the broader context in which maritime logistics operates.

In the afternoon, we visited ECS, where automation plays a central role. In a fully automated low bay and high bay warehouse with capacity for some 60.000 pallets, unmanned pallet carriers and cranes manage storage and retrieval operations 24/7. From Zeebrugge, just in time deliveries are organised for major UK supermarkets, demonstrating how maritime connectivity and smart warehousing seamlessly integrate.

This was like “How do they do it?” in real life! 

We are happy to remind you that the online registration for the MSc in Maritime Science programme for the academic year 2025-2026 is still open for Benelux candidates! This programme welcomes both national and international candidates who are passionate about advancing their knowledge and careers in the maritime field.

Special opportunity: candidates also have the option to start the programme in the second semester of the academic year 2025-2026 as part of a multi-year programme. This flexible option allows you to tailor your educational journey to your needs. For more information, please contact us at maritimescience@ugent.be.