Postdoc in Data-Driven Autonomous Shipping and Port Operations

The transition towards autonomous and remotely operated vessels is reshaping the way maritime transport systems are designed, operated and coordinated. The introduction of autonomy to the maritime and port ecosystem concerns multiple stakeholders including rowers, pilots, terminals, operators, port authorities, and so on. While advances in automation create opportunities for safer, more efficient and sustainable shipping, they also introduce new challenges in vessel operations, human-automation interaction, port-call planning and logistics coordination.

Addressing these challenges requires an integrated understanding of how autonomous vessel capabilities interact with operational conditions, human intervention and the wider maritime and port logistics systems.

The postdoctoral researcher will develop data-driven and model-based approaches to support the integration of autonomous vessels into maritime transport and port logistics. The research will use data from vessels, sensors, environments and traffics to analyse the operational and nautical complexity of autonomous vessel operations. Attentions will be given to identifying situations in which interactions between onboard personnel, autonomous systems and remote operators are critical, and to translating these insights into Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) for navigation and energy management.

The researcher will contribute to the architecture, management and use of the data platform supporting these activities.

A major focus will be on port-call optimisation and logistics ecosystem strategies for autonomous vessels. The researcher will analyse planning, coordination and operational activities in port calls, identify sources of inefficiency and the adjustments required for autonomous sailing and mooring, and develop quantitative models and decision-support approaches for optimisation solutions. The research will also investigate how autonomous vessels affect collaboration and dependencies among stakeholders.

Using agent-based modelling and scenario analyses, the researcher will evaluate alternative collaboration strategies, business models and incentives from ships, terminals and logistics-ecosystem perspectives.

The Postdoc will join the Department of Maritime and Transport Technology and will have the opportunity to investigate high-level coordination of multiple autonomous vessels at the Research lab Autonomous Shipping (RAS), under the supervision of Yusong Pang and Rudy Negenborn. This Postdoc position is embedded in two co-funded research projects supported by European funding programmes, which are with over 20 industry and university partners including shipping companies, port authorities and operators, river commissions and waterborne industry actors.

The research projects aim to develop living lab for green & autonomous corridor and accelerate the adoption of autonomous ships in short-sea shipping through open innovation.

You have a PhD degree or expect to obtain a PhD degree soon in mechanical engineering, maritime technology, operations research, systems and control, or a related field, with strong skills in data engineering and quantitative modelling.

Experience with autonomous shipping, port logistics or decision-support systems is an additional advantage.

You will formulate and conduct independent scientific research, develop and manage research data and modelling frameworks, validate results with project partners and stakeholders, and disseminate findings through high-quality scientific publications and professional networks.

Good communication and writing skills in English and the ability to collaborate with project partners and research institutes are important.

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