The Summer School officially opened with welcome speeches from Kristel Toom, Director for Research and Development at Estonian Maritime Academy, and Professor Ulla Tapaninen, the BALTIC-FIT project coordinator. The programme attracted PhD candidates and early-career researchers from Finland, Sweden, Morocco, Lithuania, and Estonia, representing a diverse range of institutions, including Aalto University, University of Turku, Linköping University, EMSI of Casablanca, Lithuanian Maritime Academy, Vilnius Tech, and the World Maritime University.

A Comprehensive Programme Led by Leading Experts

The academic content of the Summer School combined cutting-edge lectures with hands-on workshops, delivered by prominent experts from across Europe. Key topics included:

• Ports as a Force for Positive Change – Dr. Maurice Jansen, Erasmus University
• Port Sustainability – Senior Researcher Seçil Oğuz, TalTech
• Impact of CO₂ Emission Taxation and Fuel Types on Arctic Shipping – Assoc. Prof. Olivier Faury, EM Normandie Business School
• Structural and Regulatory Framework of IMO – Prof. Ellen Johanne Eftestøl, Norwegian Business School
• Profitability of Shipping – Prof. Olli-Pekka Hilmola, TalTech
• GHG Mapping and Modelling in Shipping and Digital Twin Applications – Prof. Jonne Kotta, TalTech
• Technological Opportunities to Decrease Vessel Emissions – Dr. Teemu Manderbacka, VTT
• Opportunities Provided by Digitalisation to Decrease GHG Emissions – Dr. Mikael Lind, RISE

One of the highlights of the programme was the interactive "Future of Fuels Game", a two-hour simulation exercise developed and facilitated by Dr. Maurice Jansen. The game challenged participants to tackle real-world dilemmas of maritime fuel transition, such as balancing fuel adoption with infrastructure development. Participants worked in pairs—assuming the roles of port planners and shipping operators—to analyse scenarios and explore solutions to these complex challenges.

Practical Skills and Research Exchange

Participants engaged in further targeted activities, including:

• A workshop on the IMO regulatory framework and maritime decarbonisation, led by Dr. Deniece M. Aiken (TalTech), Prof. Ellen Johanne Eftestøl (BI Norwegian Business School), and Dr. Kristine Carjova (TalTech).
• Training on Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation and Training on Proposal Writing, delivered by Anna Zmiievska (ANROMIND).
• A research management workshop led by Yrsa Cronhjort and Kaisa Vehmas (VTT).

The Thesis Workshop on 22 May offered students a platform to present their research topics and engage in constructive dialogue with an expert panel. Special thanks go to Prof. Sanja Bauk (TalTech), Assoc. Prof. Serkan Turkmen (TalTech), and industry experts Ellen Kaasik (Port of Tallinn), Jarkko Rahikainen (VTT), Johann Östling (RISE), and Keneth Lind (RISE), who provided invaluable feedback and mentorship.

Building Networks and Showcasing Innovation

Beyond the academic programme, the Summer School facilitated networking and cross-border collaboration. A highlight was the networking reception at the Swedish Embassy in Estonia, co-hosted by the Embassy and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. The event featured a presentation of the Virtual Watch Tower (VWT) project and included an opening address by H.E. Charlotte Wrangberg, Ambassador of Sweden to Estonia. Participants learned about digital collaboration in logistics and Estonia’s role in advancing the VWT initiative, presented by Dr. Mikael Lind and Prof. Ulla Tapaninen.

Interactive sessions included a simulation led by Olev Tõnismaa (TalTech) on EMERA's navigational bridge simulators, as well as excursions to the Seaplane Harbour and the Estonian State Fleet, with special thanks to Andres Lasma, Director and industrial PhD researcher at TalTech, for facilitating these experiences.

Strengthening Estonia’s Role in Maritime Innovation

The BALTIC-FIT Summer School 2025 successfully fostered international collaboration, offered practical insights into maritime decarbonisation, and reinforced the TalTech Estonian Maritime Academy’s position as a leading regional hub for maritime research and innovation. The event not only empowered the next generation of maritime professionals with cutting-edge knowledge but also strengthened partnerships across academia, industry, and policy in pursuit of a more sustainable shipping industry.

👉 Follow project updates on BALTIC-FIT LinkedIn and visit the project homepage to learn more.