In December, the first doctoral student of the Estonian Maritime Academy defended his doctoral thesis. Doctoral studies were started at the Academy in the fall of 2020, and today there are already 17 maritime doctoral students who work in maritime transport, green maritime technology, waterways safety, maritime cyber security, and blue economy and water resources research groups.
Doctoral studies in maritime science are conducted in close collaboration with industry, and several doctoral students are pursuing their work as industrial Ph.D. candidates. An industrial Ph.D. student works full-time at a company and develops solutions to their research problem under the guidance of professors and researchers at the Estonian Maritime Academy. Doctoral students collaborate with influential companies in the maritime sector, both in Estonia and internationally, such as the Estonian State Fleet, Baltic Workboats, the Hamina-Kotka port, and ABB.
Naturally, the cohort of maritime Ph.D. students also includes Early-Stage Researchers who work at the Estonian Maritime Academy alongside their supervisors and colleagues to address their research challenges. They tackle compelling and significant sectoral challenges, plan and test potential solutions, and can choose to work either in Estonia or with European universities and partners.
The Estonian Maritime Academy is involved in various maritime research projects that support the topics of doctoral studies. Participating in research projects fosters the personal growth of doctoral students—our future top specialists in maritime science—and helps them establish contacts with companies and research institutions abroad. Synergy between the Estonian Maritime Academy and research groups from other faculties at TalTech diversifies and empowers doctoral students’ work and career development even during their studies.
The goal of sustainable and enduring maritime development is one of the most critical challenges and an essential part of the doctoral students’ work. Each doctoral student approaches their field of maritime science—whether ports, logistics, environmental concerns, personnel development, legislation and regulations, or marine technology—from their specific perspective. For example, the dissertation of Rasul Bilandi, the first doctoral graduate, to be defended on December 20, 2024, is titled "Doctoral studies in maritime science are conducted in close collaboration with industry, and several doctoral students are pursuing their work as industrial Ph.D. candidates. An industrial Ph.D. student works full-time at a company and develops solutions to their research problem under the guidance of professors and researchers at the Estonian Maritime Academy. Doctoral students collaborate with influential companies in the maritime sector, both in Estonia and internationally, such as the Estonian State Fleet, Baltic Workboats, the Hamina-Kotka port, and ABB.
Naturally, the cohort of maritime Ph.D. students also includes Early-Stage Researchers who work at the Estonian Maritime Academy alongside their supervisors and colleagues to address their research challenges. They tackle compelling and significant sectoral challenges, plan and test potential solutions, and can choose to work either in Estonia or with European universities and partners.
The Estonian Maritime Academy is involved in various maritime research projects that support the topics of doctoral studies. Participating in research projects fosters the personal growth of doctoral students – our future top specialists in maritime science – and helps them establish contacts with companies and research institutions abroad. Synergy between the Estonian Maritime Academy and research groups from other faculties at TalTech diversifies and empowers doctoral students’ work and career development even during their studies.
The goal of sustainable and enduring maritime development is one of the most critical challenges and an essential part of the doctoral students’ work. Each doctoral student approaches their field of maritime science – whether ports, logistics, environmental concerns, personnel development, legislation and regulations, or marine technology – from their specific perspective. For example, the dissertation of Rasul Bilandi, the first doctoral graduate, to be defended on December 20, 2024, is titled Efficient High-Speed Small Craft: Performance in Calm Water and Waves" and combines marine technology and sustainability.
Rasul Bilandi explains that his research focuses on developing stepped hull designs for high-speed small vessels to make them more efficient and sustainable. High-speed small crafts, also known as gliders or planing boats, lift above the water due to hydrodynamic forces at high speeds. Bilandi's work is significant because high-speed crafts are widely used in the Baltic Sea and other waters.
In his research, he explores ways to improve the design and efficiency of stepped hulls, reducing their environmental impact and thereby preserving the ecological health of the seas. Bilandi highlights that a fascinating discovery in his work was the noticeable environmental impact of minor changes in hull design. Even small design adjustments resulted in significant differences in vessel efficiency, emphasizing the importance of small changes in finding more sustainable solutions.
The mathematical models developed by Bilandi help optimize hull shapes early in the design process. These models complement computational fluid dynamics simulations and provide designers with tools to understand and improve vessel performance under various conditions. Using these models, it is possible to create environmentally friendly small crafts that perform well at high speeds in both calm and wavy waters.
Bilandi’s research is particularly valuable for manufacturers of high-speed small crafts, such as recreational boats and coastal patrol vessels. Future studies on stepped hulls for such crafts will undoubtedly refine the models further by incorporating additional motions, wave conditions, and factors like ice impact.
The director of the Estonian Maritime Academy, Roomet Leiger, affirms that in Estonia, there is a broad range of opportunities for maritime Ph.D. specialists. A doctoral degree in maritime studies is highly valued and essential for a traditional career path as a lecturer, researcher, or professor at universities. However, maritime companies especially welcome these specialists to promote knowledge-based innovation and support the economy.
For instance, Andres Laasmaa, head of the Estonian State Fleet, began his doctoral studies concurrently with the establishment of the fleet. A well-known maritime expert and leader in Estonia, Laasmaa found it logical and necessary to continue with doctoral studies to support his work culture based on maritime development and knowledge.
The doctoral program at the Estonian Maritime Academy is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the development of the maritime sector in Estonia while fostering personal growth. The academy’s ambitious mission is to train top maritime specialists, advance research and development in the field, and be an empowering collaboration partner. According to Leiger, one of the academy’s major strategic goals has been achieved: maritime education is now available in Estonia at all levels, starting from extracurricular education and culminating in a doctoral degree.
"We are immensely proud and delighted with our first graduating maritime Ph.D. candidate!" says Leiger.
The article was published in Mente et Manu, the magazine of Tallinn University of Technology.