Professor Jonas W Ringsberg
Chalmers University of Technology, 
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Marine Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

 Academic Profile

Professor Jonas W. Ringsberg is Professor of Marine Structures and Head of the Division of Marine Technology at Chalmers University of Technology. His research focuses on marine structural engineering, Arctic and ocean technology, and sustainable maritime systems. His work spans several interconnected areas, including structural integrity and reliability of marine structures, constitutive material modelling, ice mechanics, Arctic engineering and transportation, sustainable engineering, wind-assisted ship propulsion, marine renewable energy (wave and offshore wind), autonomous shipping, energy modelling and performance analysis of ship systems, and advanced computational methods for fluid–structure interaction.

 Professor Ringsberg is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (F-RINA) and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME Fellow), and serves on the Executive Committee of the ASME Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OOAE) Division. He has been actively involved in the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC) since 2006 and has served on several committees, including Fatigue and Fracture (III.2, 2006-2012), Quasi-Static Response (II.1, 2012-2018), and Ultimate Strength (III.1, 2018-2025), chairing several of these committees. He currently chairs the Arctic Technology Committee for the 2025-2028 term.

Professor Ringsberg is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Ocean Engineering, and serves as Associate Editor for five international journals as well as a member of the Editorial Board of eight additional journals.

Follow this link for research projects and publications: https://www.chalmers.se/en/persons/jwri/

Keynote Lecture

Title: UN’s decade of ocean science: challenges in sustainable shipping, the Arctic case

Abstract: The United Nations (UN) has designated 2021-2030 as the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”, highlighting the critical importance of the oceans for the long-term stability of the Earth system and human society. Today’s geopolitical developments in the southern hemisphere are negatively affecting shipping and transportation, and ship fuel consumption is expected to increase due to rerouting. The shipping routes in the Arctic can therefore be important enablers for safe and efficient marine transportation. But there are challenges and concerns about whether the Arctic should be opened for shipping corridors. The presentation has two parts. In the first part, aspects of sustainability and responsibilities regarding Arctic shipping routes are discussed, followed by methods and tools developed for safe maritime operations under extreme conditions referred to as the “Arctic case”. Concluding remarks exemplify future research directions needed for sustainable Arctic shipping corridors.

Academic Profile:

https://iiti.ac.in/people/~palaniia/

http://iiti.irins.org/profile/62176

Keynote Lecture

Tentative Title: A Sustainable Laser Cleaning Approach for Underwater Biofouling Removal on Ship Hulls  

Biofouling, characterized by the accumulation of microorganisms, algae, and sessile marine organisms such as mussels on submerged surfaces, poses a major challenge in marine environments, particularly on ship hulls and other technical surfaces. This accumulation significantly increases hydrodynamic drag, resulting in higher fuel consumption and elevated CO₂ emissions, thereby imposing considerable economic and environmental burdens on the maritime industry. In this study, an in-situ underwater laser-based cleaning approach was developed for the removal of biofouling from ship hull surfaces. A nanosecond-pulsed Nd:YAG laser was employed at two wavelengths, 532 nm and 1064 nm, and operated at energy levels of approximately 250 mJ and 350 mJ. The treated surfaces were subsequently analyzed to evaluate cleaning efficiency and assess any microstructural modifications induced by laser exposure. Among the tested conditions, irradiation at 532 nm with an energy of 250 mJ demonstrated the most effective performance, achieving uniform removal of algal biofouling without residual deposits. Furthermore, negligible thermal or mechanical damage to the substrate was observed, indicating selective ablation of surface contaminants while preserving the integrity of the hull material. To investigate the durability of the treatment, laser-cleaned samples were re-exposed to the marine environment. Although no macrofouling regrowth was observed for up to seven days, signs of rust formation and algal recolonization were detected. These findings indicate that laser cleaning offers an effective solution for immediate biofouling removal and short-term prevention; however, supplementary surface treatments or protective coatings may be necessary to mitigate microbial recolonization and corrosion over extended periods.

 Academic Profile:  

https://www.uis.no/en/profile/mohsen-assadi 

Keynote Lecture

Tentative Title: Sustainable Energy and Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities

A circular economy aims to minimize waste by keeping materials and resources in use for as long as possible, including reusing materials after the technical lifetime of the equipment in which they were originally used.

Sustainability focuses on using resources in ways that do not deplete them, emphasizing practices that maintain environmental, social, and economic balance—such as relying on renewable resources.

Although these concepts are often viewed as two sides of the same coin, practical experience shows important differences. For example, the materials used to harness renewable energy—such as those in wind turbines and solar panels—have generated large volumes of waste once the components reach the end of their operational life. Developing countries face especially rapid growth in both energy demand and material consumption. Without innovative manufacturing solutions and efficient material recycling systems, this growth will accelerate resource depletion. Learning from global best practices and accumulated experience is therefore critical. Achieving social development and widespread prosperity requires close collaboration in planning and executing development initiatives at both local and global levels, drawing on proven approaches and lessons learned. Addressing energy poverty—along with ensuring energy security, reliability, and availability—is essential for sustainable development. Access to stable, reliable, and affordable energy is also a prerequisite for adopting new technologies such as AI. At the same time, minimizing resource depletion through circularity remains crucial. Consequently, we are facing significant challenges in simultaneously enabling sustainable development and ensuring efficient resource use.

Previous keynote speakers

2023  (4th COTech Conference)

Keynote title:Biomimicry, the Case of Morphing Blades

Keynote title:Sustainability and Renewables in Offshore Environment: Recent Modelling Challenges

Keynote title: 
Lithium ion batteries, the basics and some trends ahead

Keynote title: 
Engineering the future of Critical Assets and Infrastructures under Emerging uncertain Conditions 

Keynote title: Promoting multiscale fatigue to design reliable and sustainable structures

Keynote title: AI-driven Design Optimization and its Applications 

Keynote title: How numerical simulations help wind turbine growth from 50 kW to 15 MW

Keynote title: Top of Line Corrosion in Gas-condensate Pipeline 

Keynote title: New trends in technologies of the development of the resources in the Arctic and High North

Keynote title: Assessment of structures subjected to abnormal water slamming  events  

Keynote title: Wind engineering for Belgian offshore wind farms

Keynote title:The Norwegian Maritime Authority's involvement in development of international Maritime Regulations with emphasis on Polar Regions  

Keynote title: Impact from Ice Floes and Icebergs on Ships in Polar Regions 

Keynote title: Transport and Injection of CO2 - Technological Challenges 

Keynote title: Multi-scale Simulation of Extreme Wave Events

Applied Mechanics, Materials and Biomechanics Section, 
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras, Greece

Keynote title: Damping in Composite Materials, Laminates and Wind Turbine Blade Structures 

Keynote title: The use of Curved Sandwich Beam Based Finite Elements in Stress Analysis of Slender Structures with Complex Cross-sections

Keynote title: Turbulent Loads on Wind Turbines Anticipated by Forward-looking Droppler Liders

Keynote title: Advances in Structural Health Monitoring 

Keynote title: Limitations Related to Marine Operations in the Barents Sea

Keynote title: AIntegrity Management of Marine Structures

Keynote title: Boundary Element Method Solution for Large Scale Cathodic Protection Problems

Keynote title: CFD Analysis in Subsea and Marine Technology

Keynote title: Isogeometric Methods for Offshore Applications

Keynote title: Challenges and Possibilities of Industrial Multi-disciplinary Optimization in the Era of Digitalization

Keynote title: Challenges in Wind Tunnel Modelling of Wind Engineering Problems

Keynote title: Multi-fluid CFD Analysis in Process Engineering