Annual report 2023

Department of Marine Technology | NTNU

Looking back

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In 2023, we have seen an increased interest in our flagship in education, the five-year integrated MSc-program in marine technology, including a record-high number of female students starting their first year here.

NTNU AMOS Centre of Excellence in Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems, closed after ten years of extremely successful operation, educating more than 200 PhD’s and about 1000 MSc-candidates, and fostering 8 spin-off companies.

Also, SFI Smart Maritime, SFI MOVE (Marine operations) and SFI Exposed expired in 2023, together leaving a rather significant void in our research portfolio. Establishing new large and long-term research projects, preferably with Department of Marine Technology in the lead is high on our agenda. Fortunately, we’ve had success with our EU applications – 5 granted out of 6 evaluated applications!

The symbolic foundation stone of the new Ocean Technology Centre was laid down by Rector Anne Borg and head of SINTEF Alexandra Bech Gjørv on August 22nd together with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Bjørnar Skjæran. Although the construction project was started already in 2022, this was another important milestone in the realization of our future research and education centre.

Wave machine delivery at Marine Technology

Our mission

NTNU’s mission is to educate outstanding graduates with strong analytical and practical abilities. The research goal in the technological areas is to expand knowledge in science and technology for a better world. The Department of Marine Technology shall contribute to environmentally and economically sustainable ocean industries in Norway and worldwide.

The Department of marine technology research and education contributes to develop sustainable solutions, helps solve complex problems and global challenges to assure effective resource utilization. In line with NTNU’s goal to move from mission to action, we address the UN goals for sustainability (SDGs) that are relevant based on the research and educational activity in the department.

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2023 Numbers

SOME OF OUR PHDs

Huili Xu

Finished and defended her PhD thesis on “Fish-inspired Propulsion Study: Numerical Hydrodynamics of Rigid/Flexible/Morphing Foils and Observations on Real Fish” with Marilena Greco as the main supervisor. She now works as a Senior Consultant in the Vysus Group in Oslo.

Martin Skaldebø

Defended his tesis on “Intelligent low-cost solutions for underwater intervention using computer vision and machine learning” in August. The same month he started as a researcher in SINTEF Ocean Department of Aquaculture where he works on marine robotics and automation.

Astrid Vamråk Solheim

Defended her thesis “Exploring the performance of conceptual offshore production systems for deep-sea mining” in May, an continued as a postdoctoral researcher at the department. She also became a mother during her last year as a PhD student. After the PhD she continued as a marine engineer and naval architect at BOA Offshore.

Benjamin Lagemann

Defended his thesis about “Conceptual design of low-emission ships” in May and continued as a post doc at IMT. In 2024 he landed the position as an associate professor at the department within the Marine Systems Design research group. He also works part time as a scientific researcher at SINTEF Ocean. One of the projects he works on is the DREAMS-project – Design Re-Enginering and Automation for marine Systems.

Håvard Snefjellå Løvås

Gave his best to defend his thesis on “Optical Techniques for Hyperspectral Imaging of the Seafloor” in September. He continued as a post doc in the Department of Biology where he aims to develop optical techniques and technologies for hyperspectral remote sensing of the seabed from vehicles above and below water. The post doc is an interdisciplinary effort that combines techniques from remote sensing, radiative transfer theory and machine vision. After the post doc he continued as a researcher in Norce in Tromsø.

Daeseong Park

Defended his thesis on “Model-Based Design of Marine Hybrid Power Systems; With a Case Study of DC Grid Architecture and Control”. He has worked full time as a Project Engineer in ABB at Fornebu from 2022 at the Marine & Ports Division. His work consists of Wind Turbine Installation Vessels with both AC and DC grids among many other things.

Research and Highlights

Laid foundation stone Professor Mørch’s House

The building of Professor Mørch’s House at the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre has started

Fisheries and Ocean Minister Bjørnar Skjæran laid the foundation stone on Tuesday 22 August 2023 for the facility at Tyholt that will contribute to sustainable development of the ocean industries.

"The laying of the foundation stone marks the starting point for a boost in maritime and marine research and education. It is also the beginning of a major national project for the ocean nation of Norway. The laboratories at the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre will be world-class and an important tool in the development of tomorrow's education, research, and ocean industries," said Rector Anne Borg at NTNU.

In the centre’s laboratories, models of wind turbines, fish cages, solar islands, ships an thrusters will be tested and researched.

Safeguard project

The intentional damage of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines and Finland’s pipeline Balticconnector recently in the Baltic Sea highlights that we are in a new geopolitical situation. Our researchers respond to the new risk picture with continuous development of subsea robots: We need a coastguard under water.

45 percent of the first graders this year are female

The highest female student proportion ever at the Department of Marine Technology.

“This is promising for the marine and maritime industry in Norway. We had very qualified students this year, and it is especially nice that we get so many female students that can contribute to the development of an industry where the majority of the workforce are men,” says Head of Department Sverre Steen.

NTNU and the University of Florida joins forces to map and monitor the ocean pulse

NTNU and The University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to leverage their collective scientific expertise and technology platforms to map and monitor the world’s oceans, lakes and waterways.

AMOS final symposium

Among NTNU AMOS, Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems deliveries are more than 230 PhDs, more than 50 post docs and more than 2000 scientific papers. This has been fundamental research in marine technology, control engineering and marine biology.

Asgeir J. Sørensen wins OG21 Technology Champion award for innovation in NTNU AMOS

«Professor Asgeir J. Sørensen has been the director of the NTNU AMOS Centre of Excellence, that for ten years has done research on autonomous operations and systems. Professor Sørensen and his team has developed knowledge and innovation of great importance for teaching, research, industry, and ocean management,” says Lars Sørum, leader of the jury and research manager in Sintef.