Conferences and Presentations
MT 2026
MT’26 (11th International Conference on Maritime Transport) is an academic and professional conference organized by the Facultat de Nàutica de Barcelona (UPC). It brings together researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and administrations to discuss innovation, sustainability, training, and challenges in the maritime sector.
MT 2026
The transition toward sustainable shipping is a central challenge for the maritime sector. Ports concentrate intense activity that generates significant emissions, with tugboats playing a prominent role due to their inefficient operational patterns. The TUG-EMI project develops a methodology based on the integration of AIS data, field campaigns, interviews, and simulation to quantify and reduce the emissions of these vessels. The results show that the skipper's sailing behavior directly influences fuel consumption and that tugboats often operate above their optimal speed. Based on this evidence, a simulator-based pilot training program for maritime professionals has been designed, teaching low-impact maneuvering techniques—such as trajectory optimization, thrust modulation, and the reduction of waiting times. The training results indicate that this approach can improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact, and it is proposed as a reproducible model for other ports and service vessels.
MARTECH 2026
MARTECH 2026 (International Conference on Maritime Technology and Engineering) is a biennial conference organized by the Instituto Superior Técnico of Lisbon and the Naval Engineering Section of the Portuguese Association of Engineers.
MARTECH 2026
Maritime transport is essential for global trade, but it generates significant emissions, especially in port areas. In this sector, tugboats play a key role in vessel maneuvering, but conventional methods for estimating their emissions are inaccurate. Through a methodology that integrates AIS data, on-board measurement campaigns, and interviews with the crew, it has been observed that they operate most of the time with very low engine loads and long waiting periods, leading to avoidable fuel consumption. Based on this analysis, improved models have been developed to identify maneuvering phases and estimate real power. This approach allows for the creation of more accurate emissions inventories and opens the door to real-time optimization systems, providing port authorities with effective tools to reduce local pollution and improve the sustainability of operations.
Check - Article - Strategies for mitigating tugboat emissions using a data-drive approach
TRA 2026
TRA 2026 (Transport Research Arena) is the largest and most prestigious European conference on research and innovation in the transport sector, organized biennially by the European Commission and the main professional partners of the sector. Under the motto “Re-Generation in Transport”, the conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and professionals to address all modes of transport and aspects of mobility, with a special focus on decarbonization, digitalization, infrastructure resilience, and user-centered mobility.
TRA 2026
Maritime transport generates significant emissions in port areas, and tugboats are a major contributor. Through a methodology that integrates AIS data, on-board campaigns, and simulation, it has been observed that these vessels operate most of the time at a very low engine load, which causes an unnecessary increase in consumption. The developed models achieve high accuracy in identifying maneuvering phases and improve power estimation compared to conventional methods. This approach allows for more accurate emissions inventories and opens the door to real-time optimization systems to reduce the environmental impact in ports.
Check - Article - Optimizing tugboat emissions within port areas using data fusion
Awards Positive Impact. Port of Barcelona
On November 27, 2025, the Port of Barcelona celebrated the event “Celebrating the Journey, Building the Future” to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Positive Impact, the annual report that measures and promotes the Port Community's progress in environmental, social, and governance sustainability. Within the area of environmental sustainability, the initiative of REYSER-SAR Tugboats was recognized as part of the TUGEMI project.
Awards Positive Impact. Port of Barcelona
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Date: November 25, 2025. Lloc: Barcelona, Spain |
TransNav2025
TransNav is the 16th International Conference on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, organized by the Faculty of Navigation of the Gdynia Maritime University and The Nautical Institute.
TransNav 2025
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Webpage: TransNav2025 Dates: June 11-13, 2025 Place: Gdynia, Poland |
Port pollution comes from merchant and auxiliary vessels, such as pilot boats and port tugboats, whose emissions are related to their engine operating modes. Cubic speed-to-power methods for estimating emissions are inaccurate for port tugboats, which operate at low speeds. This study validates empirical rules based on the experiences of tugboat pilots, using data from a port tugboat in Barcelona monitored during 40 maneuvers in April 2023. The results show that applying low-load adjustment factors during low-speed operations reduces estimation errors and emissions. Optimizing engine load during tugboat operations can minimize port emissions, benefiting both people and the environment.
Check - Abstract
IAMUC 2024
IAMUC 2024
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Webpage: IAMUC 2024 Dates: October 07-12, 2024 Place: Massachusetts, United States of America |
Port pollution comes from merchant ships and auxiliary vessels like pilotage vessels and port tugs, with emissions tied to engine operational modes. Traditional cubic speed-power methods for estimating emissions are inaccurate for port tugs operating at low speeds. This study validates empirical rules based on tug captains' experiences, using data from an in-port tug in Barcelona monitored over 40 maneuvers in April 2023. Results show that applying low load adjustment factors during slow-speed operations reduces estimation errors and emissions. Optimizing engine loads during tug operations can minimize port emissions, benefiting human health and the environment.
Check - Abstract
1st Edition BlueNet2Market
1st Edition BlueNet2Market
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Date: July 02, 2024. Place: Barcelona, Espanya |
The blue economy marketplace, organised by the Xarxa Marítima de Catalunya (BlueNetCat), is a meeting and exchange point for researchers, companies, investors and authorities. These BlueNet2Market presentations consists on sustainability, research and finances around the blue economy, also known as maritime related commerce. In addition to providing information about this environment, it also generates the opportunity to expand the social network and meet more people interested and involved in this sector.
Check - Presentations Timetable
MT 2024
MT 2024
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Webpage: MT 2024 Dates: June 05-07, 2024. Place: Barcelona, Spain |
Port tugs are essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of port activities, including the maneuvering, mooring, and unmooring of large vessels, as well as providing support for fire protection and search and rescue operations. This study focuses on analyzing the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data of nine tugs at the port of Barcelona, Spain, from March 2023 to better understand their operations. AIS, originally used for vessel identification in maritime navigation, now supports various applications like environmental protection, vessel management, and safety surveillance. Using Jupyter Notebook, the study characterizes tug activities based on their AIS data, highlighting the status of tugs (underway, moored, or undefined) and addressing challenges such as missing data due to equipment issues, external conditions, and dense traffic. The insights gained aim to improve tug deployment, scheduling, and fleet operation evaluation.
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