The International Maritime Organization (IMO), from the United Nations, held in London, from 13 to 14 November 2018, the Final Conference of the European Sea Traffic Management (STM) Validation (2015-2018) involving 400 researchers, scientists, shipping operators, embassy representatives and other officials from many European and non-European countries.
This project, with a budget of € 43 million, concerns the validation of the concept of Maritime Traffic Management, through the introduction of digital innovation and new technological developments.
The IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, European Transeuropean Net Co-ordinator (TEN-T) - "Motorways of the Sea", Professor Kurt Bodewig and its Chief Executive Officer Swedish Shipping Administration (SMA), Katarina Norén, honoured the Conference with their presence.
From Cyprus, researchers participated from Cyprus University of Technology: Sotos Voskarides, Michalis Michaelides, Pavlos Christodoulides and Nikos Eumides.
The results of the STM Validation Program were presented at the conference, mainly in the areas of improved performance, safety in shipping and environmental protection. The suggested steps for further exploitation by the shipping community of the significant results and conclusions drawn from the Program were presented, with the aim of reducing or even eliminating many of the problems that many people in the shipping industry, as well as the environment, for centuries.
There has been a special reference to new Research Programs which are expected to start shortly and are based on the STM philosophy. These include "Baltic Safe", funded by the European Union and the Swedish Steam Management Coordinator (SMA), and "Sea Traffic Management in Eastern Mediterranean (STEAM)", funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation and coordinated by CUT.
Other related Programs have already been submitted or are expected to be submitted in the near future for funding from European research funds, with the participation of various European countries, including Cyprus.
As both Deputy Minister of Shipping Natasa Pylidou and Rector of CUT Professor Andreas Anagiotos stated at a recent event on STM in Limassol, the participation in this Program as well as in any future similar research projects is a great honour for CUT and Cyprus, but also a tremendous responsibility for the Republic of Cyprus to respond to the relevant technological and research challenges in the shipping sector as part of the 4th Industrial Revolution.