How navies can adapt and innovate to build resilience will be under scrutiny at this year’s International Naval Engineering Conference and Exhibition (INEC) which runs between 8-10 November 2022. Organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), INEC will also incorporate the International Ship Control Systems Symposium (iSCSS).
Chair of the INEC technical advisory committee, Cdre Stuart Henderson RN, Ministry of Defence UK, says: “’Adapt or die’ might be a bit strong as a starter but there is a real sense of urgency building about our need to change and more optimism about our ability to adapt to meet the challenge. As a human species we need to adapt to stall climate change, across the generations we need to up-skill to make use of the digital revolution and Industry 4.0, and as navies we need to reinvent ourselves to remain competitive in the battlespace.
“Can navies that build ships and submarines for 30+ year lifespans stay relevant when system designs improve much more quickly? The conference will lay down the challenge to ship and submarine designers, builders, and support teams to adapt to integrate emerging technologies such as autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. Not only do we need to adapt, but we also need to build resilience through assured availability with new approaches to maintenance and repair.”
Responding to this challenge, delegates will hear from experts in the field on topics as varied as underwater noise, cyber security, naval decarbonisation, human-machine teaming, submarines and intelligent platform management, among other topics. Plenary sessions and keynote speakers will include:
· Future Naval Battlespace and Implications for Key Enablers, Robert Skarda, Steller Systems Ltd
· Expanding The Advantage: United States Navy Surface Ship Arctic Operability, Glen Sturtevant, PEO Ships – NAVSEA 21
· A Moment of Maritime Opportunity? The Operational Energy Challenge, Jeffrey Voth, Herren Associates, Inc.
This year’s conference will take a hybrid format with online access and in-person sessions at Delft University of Technology and will also incorporate the International Ship Control Systems Symposium (iSCSS) with a focus on human-machine teaming in ship control.
Chair of the iSCSS technical advisory committee, Cdr (E) dr. ir. Rinze Geertsma CEng FIMarEST, explains: “Machine teaming in ship control strives to get the best out of collaboration between the human and control systems. While the complexity of operations at sea continue to increase, society demands maritime operations to be intelligent, sustainable, and safe, both for naval and commercial operations. To achieve these goals, we need to grasp the opportunity novel technologies like autonomous systems and artificial intelligence provide, while ensuring we involve the human when needed, in design and in operation of control systems.”
iSCSS will also see research contributions from multiple world-leading Universities on autonomous vessels in the Collaborative Autonomous Shipping Experience (CASE).
Registration for the annual event is now open and full conference programmes and registration details can be found at: https://www.imarest.org/events/category/categories/imarest-event/international-naval-engineering-conference-and-exhibition-2022
