★ 2nd International Conference
05—06.AUG.2026 / HORTEN ⋅ NORWAY

Sustainable Initiatives in the Maritime Sector Of the sea,
of science,
of what comes next.

Two days at the edge of the Oslofjord — researchers, mariners, and industry converge to chart the future of maritime sustainability, training, and intelligence.

59°25′N · 10°28′E | USN — Campus Vestfold
Dates
August 5—6, 2026Pre-conference: August 4
Host
University of South-Eastern NorwayCampus Vestfold, Horten
Tracks
Eight thematic streamsMaritime · AI · Sustainability
Publications
Sustainability · Env. EconomicsSpecial issues forthcoming
01
WELCOME
A note from the chairs

An invitation, from the North.

Following the inaugural edition in Oeiras, SIM returns — this time to the Oslofjord, where Norway's centuries-old relationship with the sea meets a present-day urgency for green transition, autonomy, and sustainable shipping.

The 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Initiatives in the Maritime Sector convenes researchers, educators, regulators, and industry leaders for two days of focused dialogue at the University of South-Eastern Norway, Campus Vestfold.

SIM 2026 is multidisciplinary by design. Over the course of plenary, parallel, and poster sessions we will examine maritime logistics, port and supply-chain management, navigation regulation, autonomous and AI-augmented operations, decarbonization, robotics, and the human dimension of training and assessment at sea.

Accepted papers will be considered for publication in Sustainability (Special Issue) and Environmental Economics. We hope you join us in Horten.

02
TIMELINE
Important dates

Mark your calendar.

→ 01
Abstract submission opens
Submit a 300-word abstract through the conference portal.
15 JAN 2026
→ 02
Abstract submission deadline
Final cut-off for abstracts under all eight thematic tracks.
30 APR 2026
→ 03
Notification of acceptance
Authors notified following double-blind review.
31 MAY 2026
→ 04
Early-bird registration
Reduced rate for academic, student, and industry delegates.
15 JUN 2026
→ 05
Final registration
Standard rates apply after this date.
25 JUL 2026
→ 06
Pre-conference micro-course & demo
SEA-AI & I-MASTER — open to registered delegates.
04 AUG 2026
→ 07
Conference
Two days at USN Campus Vestfold, Horten.
05—06 AUG 2026
→ 08
Full paper submission
For consideration in journal special issues.
31 DEC 2026
03
PRELUDE
Pre-conference event · 04 August

A day before the conference proper.

Open to delegates

A micro-course on AI for maritime training, paired with a live demonstration of next-generation learning analytics.

The day before SIM 2026 opens, we host a focused half-day session that bridges two ongoing European research efforts — one Norwegian, one Pan-European — both reshaping how seafarers are trained, assessed, and supported.

Participation is open to all registered conference delegates and seats are limited. The session combines a structured micro-course in the morning with a hands-on demo and training workshop in the afternoon.

SEA—AI
Micro-course: AI for maritime training and assessment. Funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR).
I—MASTER
Demo and training of the learning-analytics dashboard developed under the EU-funded I-MASTER project.
04
August
Tuesday · 2026
Pre-conference event
04
KEYNOTES
Two voices, two days

Speaking across the fjord.

I
KEYNOTE 01 / DAY 1
Gesa Praetorius
VTI — Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute
→ 05 AUGUST · 2026 · OPENING PLENARY
II
KEYNOTE 02 / DAY 2
Koen van de Merwe
DNV — Det Norske Veritas, Norway
→ 06 AUGUST · 2026 · CLOSING PLENARY
05
TRACKS
Eight thematic streams

What we'll be discussing.

I
Ocean conservation & environmental drivers
II
Sustainability issues in shipping
III
Regulations, safety & autonomous navigation
IV
Education, training & ocean literacy
V
Maritime logistics & supply-chain management
VI
Maritime robotics & digital transformation
VII
Green ports, ships & offshore solutions
VIII
Decarbonization & energy innovations
06
COMMITTEE
The people behind SIM 2026

Organizing & scientific.

Conference chair
Per Haavardtun
University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway
Conference chair
Viktoriia Koilo-Gabillaud
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Conference chair
Pedro Teodoro
Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique, Portugal
Conference chair
Maria Manuela Batista
Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique, Portugal

Scientific committee

08 MEMBERS · INTERNATIONAL
Halvor Schøyen
USN · NORWAY
Ziaul Haque Munim
USN · NORWAY
Tae-Eun Kim
UIT · NORWAY
Ryuichi Shibasaki
UTOKYO · JAPAN
Gabriel Moises Fuentes
NHH · NORWAY
Totakura Bangar Raju
IMU-CHENNAI · INDIA
Junwoo Jeon
SKU · SOUTH KOREA
Charlott Sellberg
UGOT · SWEDEN
07
VENUE
Horten · Oslofjord

Held at the edge of the water.

USN Campus Vestfold

The University of South-Eastern Norway's Vestfold campus sits in Horten, a historic naval town fifty miles south of Oslo, on the western shore of the Oslofjord. The campus is home to one of Northern Europe's leading maritime education programmes — and a fitting setting for two days of conversation about the sea.

Horten is reached easily by train (Skoppum station) or car from Oslo Gardermoen Airport. Ferries cross the fjord to Moss for those arriving from the east.

Address Raveien 215
3184 Horten, Norway
Coordinates 59°25′12″N
10°28′16″E
Region Vestfold
Eastern Norway
Local time CEST (UTC+2)
August
N 59°30'N 59°25'N 59°20'N 10°28'E
59°25′N · 10°28′E
USN Campus Vestfold,
Horten · Norway
08
NETWORK
Hosts & partners

In collaboration with.

Host institution
University of South-Eastern Norway
Co-organizing
NTNU
ENIDH Lisboa
Research projects
SEA-AI · NFR
I-MASTER · EU
Media & dissemination
Research Hub