Fundamentals of maritime autonomy: principles and technological concepts

This BIP forms part of the Erasmus+ programme and is co-funded by the European Union

Course description

The Fundamentals of maritime autonomy: principles and technological concepts is a BIP course. A BIP (Blended-Intensive programme) is an Erasmus+ short, intensive programme that uses innovative ways of learning and teaching, including the use of online cooperation short challenge-based courses that combine online collaboration and a short physical mobility, in which students will meet face-to-face.

This BIP is an elective course of 6 ECTS credits.

Aims and learning objectives

The learning goal of this BIP is to ensure that all students who successfully complete the course:

Acquire sufficient knowledge in the concepts, technologies and tools regarding Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).
Have a broad view about the different degrees of Autonomy and their implications.
Understanding of Human Factors issues related to the design of equipment, end-user competencies and the integration of the technology and human elements within the broader socio technical system.
Be able to identify and use the correct methods regarding Cybersecurity.
Operate in different situations through remote- control, enhancing the correct communications and the accurate use of the E-navigation.

Activities and methodology

The BIP development has two parts a theoretical and practical one:

1) The theoretical part will be carried out based on the presentation of the content of the topics in order to configure the conceptual and doctrinal scheme of the objective problem of the discipline. Students will have to prepare (and expand) with the recommended bibliography.

2) In a coordinated way and parallel to the theoretical part, the development of the practical part will be carried out according to the resolution by the students of the corresponding exercises and practical cases; including the use of simulators.

Partner Universities

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain. Coordinator
University of South-Eastern Norway – USN, Norway. Host university
University of Zadar, Croatia
Antwerp Maritime Academy, Belgium

Pre-enrollment process and submission period

This BIP is open to students from the four partner universities, and places are limited. The course will consist of 15-20 students in total, with each university enrolling 5-6 students.

Applications

If you’re interested in joining this BIP or need more information, please contact the person in charge at your university:

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya: vdg.relacions.internacionals@fnb.upc.edu
University of South-Eastern Norway: to be determined
University of Zadar: agundic@unizd.hr and mvalcic@unizd.hr
Antwerp Maritime Academy: klaas.de.hert@hzs.be

The following documents should be attached and sent to the BIP contact person during the pre-enrollment process:

Motivation letter
Transcript of records
Curriculum Vitae

Students profile

The profile of the students can be multidisciplinary, particularly highlighting final year bachelor's degree students and master's degree students from nautical studies, marine engineering.

Pre-enrollment Calendar

Pre-enrollment process: From December 15th, 2024, to January 22nd, 2025.
Personal interviews (if required): From January 22nd to January 31st, 2025.
Final list of accepted applications: January 31st, 2025.

After the acceptance to the BIP course, each student must apply for a grant and will be funded through short-term Erasmus+ grants from the students' home university. To receive Erasmus+ funding, attending 80% of the online sessions is mandatory.

Calendar

The BIP's course weekly schedule is:

Weeks 1 to 3: 17^th February -07th March - Welcome to BIP and introduction to MASS and ROC - Virtual
Weeks 4 to 6: 10th – 28th March - Human Factors, Human Machine Interactions, and Cybersecurity - Virtual
Weeks 7 to 9: 31st march-25th April - Operational aspects of unmanned and autonomous vessels - Virtual
Week 10: 28^th April – 2^nd May – Deadline for course tasks - Virtual
Week 11: 05-09^th May- Physical attendance: Practice and Basic Simulation on MASS and ROC at USN Norway - Face to Face

Venue

Face-to-face activities will take place at University of South-Eastern Norway – USN, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, 3199 Borre, Norway.

The University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) has a competence framework, training programme and pilot course for land operators of autonomous ships to create a specific training programme for qualified navigators to become land-based operators of autonomous ships.

BIP FNB