SPEAKER
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Global Trends and Prospects for Maritime Digitalization
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Session 1Global Trends and Prospects for Maritime Digitalization
Minsu Jeon
SPEAKER PROFILEMinsu Jeon is the Technical Director at IALA, where he coordinates the work of the technical committees and acts as a liaison with international organizations such as IMO, IHO and etc. He holds a master’s degree in Port Engineering. Previously, he served as the Regional Safety Navigation Adviser for the Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji, working to improve maritime safety and awareness in the Pacific region. Prior to 2016, he worked at the Korea Institute of Aids to Navigation and served in the Korean Navy.
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Session 1Global Trends and Prospects for Maritime Digitalization
Leonel Manteigas
SPEAKER PROFILELeonel Manteigas has served as Assistant Director for Coordination & Capacity Development at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) since June 2020. In this role, he is responsible for strengthening regional and inter-regional cooperation in hydrographic activities and overseeing the effective implementation of the IHO Capacity Development Work Programme. His duties include supporting the work of IHO Committees, Working Groups, and project teams. He also participates in the organization and reports on key IHO governance meetings, such as the IHO Assembly, Inter-Regional Coordination Committee and works closely with partner organizations. Additionally, manages the Capacity Development Programme, overseeing fund allocation. Furthermore, he contributes to the recognition of programs of education, development and maintenance of international standards of competence for hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers.
Before assuming his current position, he was a member of the International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). At the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute, he held several leadership positions, including Director of the Portuguese School of Hydrography and Oceanography and Head of the Hydrography Division, where he was responsible for all national hydrographic surveys and nautical chart production.
He also served as Professor of Hydrography at the Portuguese Naval Academy for five years and lectured several courses of the specialization programme in hydrography at the Portuguese Hydrographic Office. Additionally, he served for two years as Commanding Officer of a Portuguese Navy hydrographic vessel.
He holds a Category “A” Specialization in Hydrography and a Master degree of Engineering in Geomatics Engineering.
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Session 1Global Trends and Prospects for Maritime Digitalization
Fred Pot
SPEAKER PROFILECurrent Functions
- IALA delegate to the FAL Correspondence Group responsible for developing the IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalization (ISMD).
- IALA delegate to the NCSR Correspondence Group responsible for drafting guidelines to establish a framework for data distribution and global IP-based connectivity between shore-based systems and ships supporting ECDIS S-100 products.
- Leader of the Ship Reporting Task Group (Working Group 2, IALA ARM Committee), responsible for IALA Guideline G1159 on ship reporting from a shore-based perspective; currently initiating an update to this guideline to incorporate the latest developments within IMO FAL and IMO MSC.
- Member of RTCM Special Committee 139, responsible for developing a standard for the architecture and protocol of the Maritime Messaging Service (MCP/MMS).
- Member of the Steering Committee for the Digital@Sea North America Conference 2026.
Relevant Work Experience
- Princess Cruises, Los Angeles, CA, 1996-1998
- Holland America Line, Seattle, WA, 1993-1996
- Matson Navigation Company, San Francisco, CA and Honolulu, HI, 1978-1993
Education
- Master, Business Administration, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA, USA
- Master, Naval Architecture & Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Delft, The Netherlands
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Session 1Global Trends and Prospects for Maritime Digitalization
Patrick Armstrong
SPEAKER PROFILECurrent Position
Mr. Armstrong currently works as the Chief of the Navigation Technology & Risk Management Division within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Navigation Systems. He supervises the development of digital navigation technologies, such as aids to navigation, electronic charting, and maritime information management systems. This includes development of international and industry standards, and establishing appropriate national regulations. In addition, he manages maritime transportation risk mitigation, including waterway and transit improvement assessments and environmental law compliance.
Career Highlights
Mr. Armstrong has served as a deck officer in the U.S. Coast Guard since 2004. He has been assigned to nine vessels including patrol ships, buoy tenders, and icebreakers. These include as captain on the U.S. Coast Guard vessels Maple and Kukui and first officer on the Spar and Healy. He also previously worked on the staff of the Physical Aids to Navigation Division and in the Office of Cutter Forces.
Education
Global Connectivity and Infrastructure Operation Strategies
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Session 2Global Connectivity and Infrastructure Operation Strategies
Christian Benedictsen-Nislev
SPEAKER PROFILEChristian Benedictsen-Nislev is an experienced shipping and transport attorney.
Christian has a right of audience before the Danish Supreme Court and is recognised by Chambers, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal within Shipping and Transport.
In particular, he advises Danish and international transport and insurance companies as well as ports and public authorities and other businesses in the shipping and transport sectors.
He also assists enterprises dealing with international trade and transport.
Christian’s advisory services extend to all aspects of shipping, transport and international trade. He advises on structuring and operations and provides assistance regarding shipbuilding contracts, the sale and purchase of ships and goods as well as financing, commercial contracts and corporate transactions.
In addition, he has vast experience of litigation and arbitration, including disputes concerning shipping, transport law, insurance and disclosure requirements applying to listed companies. Acting for clients such as A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S, he has conducted and been successful in several cases of general public importance before the Danish courts.
Furthermore, Christian advises on regulatory issues and tendering procedures.
Christian is a qualified English solicitor and has extensive knowledge of English law and the common-law system. He provides advice on legal matters in both civil-law and common-law jurisdictions.
Christian has completed an Executive MBA in International Shipping and Logistics, which lends a deep commercial understanding and strategic insight to his advisory services.
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Session 2Global Connectivity and Infrastructure Operation Strategies
Julius Moeller
SPEAKER PROFILEDr. Julius Moeller is a Senior Advisor for Digitalisation and Communication Systems at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). His expertise lies in global digitalisation, cybersecurity, maritime communications and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). With a background in computer science and extensive research in maritime digitalisation, Julius has contributed to the development of international maritime standards and guidelines through various technical committees associated with IHO, IMO, and IALA. He currently also holds the position of Vice-Chair of Australia’s national S-100 working group, where he provides strategic guidance on the implementation of next-generation hydrographic data standards.
Following the completion of his PhD in Germany, he relocated to Australia to join AMSA, where he leads the development, testing and validation of maritime IT and communications solutions designed to enhance navigation safety, resilience and efficiency. His work supports the evolution of both Australian and international regulatory frameworks, ensuring they remain fit for purpose in an era of rapid technological change.
Julius is passionate about bridging the gap between emerging digital technologies and practical maritime operations, and regularly engages with international partners, industry stakeholders and research institutions to foster collaboration and innovation across the global maritime sector.
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Session 2Global Connectivity and Infrastructure Operation Strategies
Wonhee Lee
SPEAKER PROFILEDr. Wonhee Lee is a Senior Researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), where he specializes in the application of artificial intelligence and optimization to the maritime industry. His research encompasses ship operations, smart ports, and maritime logistics, with a focus on developing computational methods to address operational challenges in these areas.
Dr. Lee earned both his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from Seoul National University. He received his Ph.D. in 2021 for research on e-Navigation-based route optimization for coastal vessels. Building on this work, he has expanded his research to include advanced optimization techniques, deep learning, and machine learning models for maritime applications. His research connects ship route optimization with broader questions concerning the use of AI in maritime operations and logistics.
At KRISO, he has contributed to numerous national research and development projects focused on smart port optimization, ship digitalization, and AI model development for maritime applications. These activities span both ship and port operations, reflecting his interest in applying optimization and predictive modeling to practical maritime problems.
Dr. Lee also leads Korean participation in the European Union collaborative project Optimal Logistics & Analysis Data Space, which focuses on global logistics optimization using advanced optimization techniques and machine learning. His involvement extends his research in maritime applications to an international collaborative setting. His principal research interests include ship route optimization, smart port operations, maritime logistics, and AI-based decision support. Across these areas, he focuses on developing methods that connect maritime operational needs with advances in optimization and machine learning.
National Maritime Digital Technologies: Present, Future and Strategy
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Session 3National Maritime Digital Technologies: Present, Future and Strategy
Se Won Kim
SPEAKER PROFILEDr. Sewon Kim is an Associate Professor in the Department of AI Robotics at Sejong University. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
He had worked as a research engineer at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. His research interests include optimal ship operation, autonomous navigation and control, and AI-based prediction of ship performance.
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Session 3National Maritime Digital Technologies: Present, Future and Strategy
Gavin Yeo
SPEAKER PROFILEGavin Yeo graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Information Systems and Computer Science) degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He had more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry and maritime domain, working on systems and projects related to operations technology, single windows, port call optimization, data analytics and AI.
He currently heads the Digital Ecosystem Domain of Digital and Data Science Division in MPA. His department is responsible for developing digital products to empower Maritime Singapore and connect the end-to-end transport chain globally through delivering and operating high-quality, resilient digital services and systems.
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Session 3National Maritime Digital Technologies: Present, Future and Strategy
Hideki Noguchi
SPEAKER PROFILEMr. Hideki NOGUCHI is a technical advisor, Japan Ship Technology Research Association (JSTRA) that formulates strategies from an integrated R&D-based perspective for the development of international regulations and standards in the maritime field, and seek to affect an effective agile response supported by Japanese technology capabilities. Currently, he is the chair of the Working Group 2 of the IMO NCSR Sub-Committee and the chair of the IALA Digital technology Committee (DTEC).
In the past he was the coordinator of the IMO NCSR correspondence group on introduction of VHF data exchange system (VDES) into IMO regulatory framework and also the coordinator of the IMO NAV correspondence group on development of policy and symbol on AIS Aids to Navigation.
In 2023, he was awarded by the President of National Personnel Authority of the Japanese government.
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Session 3National Maritime Digital Technologies: Present, Future and Strategy
Seongchul Cho
SPEAKER PROFILESeongchul Cho is a Principal Researcher at ETRI, specializing in mobile and maritime wireless communications. He has more than 20 years of R&D experience in mobile communications, with expertise spanning WCDMA, LTE, and 5G technologies.
Building on his experience in terrestrial mobile communications, his current research focuses on applying advanced wireless communication technologies to the maritime domain. His major areas of work include Maritime IoT, smart Aids to Navigation (AtoN), and the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES).
He currently serves as a project leader for the development of Korea’s Maritime IoT communication system, which applies 3GPP-standardized NB-IoT technology to provide wide-area, low-power connectivity for maritime infrastructure and devices. His work covers system development, field trials and validation in real maritime environments, as well as research toward the future deployment of a nationwide Maritime IoT network.
He is also engaged in the development and localization of VDES technologies.
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Session 3National Maritime Digital Technologies: Present, Future and Strategy
Rikke Wetter Olufsen
SPEAKER PROFILERikke Wetter Olufsen is Deputy Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA); a position she has held since 2017. The DMA is a government agency under the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs in Denmark.
Rikke Wetter Olufsen holds a master degree in Political Science from Aarhus University. She is an experienced government official, not least in the maritime field, as she from 2008 has been a part of the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs and in 2015 became Director at the Danish Maritime Authority.
Since 2020 Rikke has held the position of Deputy-Director General where she, among other tasks, is head of the Danish delegation at the climate negotiations in IMO and is a member of the Executive Committee for Mission Innovation’s ‘Zero Emission Shipping Mission’; an international public-private partnership working to facilitate the transition to a Green Shipping Sector through innovation. Denmark is a Co-lead alongside the US, Norway, Global Maritime Forum and Maersk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.