Professional Doctorate on Operating autonomous, zero emission short sea vessels (0,8 - 1,0 fte)

This Professional Doctorate offers the opportunity to contribute to better understanding safety and mitigation choices concerning alternative fuels for the maritime sector. You will work with dedicated researchers and develop into a professional applied researcher able to bring change to the sector.

HRT Centre of Expertise HRTech

What will you do?

As a Professional Doctorate at Hogeschool Rotterdam, you will work on questions about energy transition and remote operation in the maritime sector. You will work towards a PD degree through the Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor. Within the national PD pilot, you will play a prominent role in organising, managing and executing the research for this project, in combination with cases with consortia members and linked to projects in education.

Your supervision team will consist of experts both from the university and from companies. As a PD you will be part of the Maritime PD network and explore what it means to be(come) a PD, given this title is in the (final) pilot fase. You will learn on the job, follow courses to improve your interpersonal and technological skills, and visit conferences and other gatherings to discuss your project with others.

Context and collaboration

You will be part of a close-knit team of (senior) lecturer-researchers and PhD students led by lecturer Ports Thierry Verduijn and lecturer Maritime Innovation Jeroen Pruijn. The practice-oriented (scientific) research covers a broad field. You will work at CoE HRTech, one of the Centres of Expertise (CoE’s) of Hogeschool Rotterdam.

Within the theme of smart logistics and maritime innovation, the team works closely with the faculty Rotterdam Mainport Institute, as well as Engineering and Applied Science. Several large projects are running in which PDs, PhDs and lecturers research smart and sustainable transport and port activities. As part of your assignment, you will divide your time between these institutes and the CoE location.

Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor and Human Capital

The Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor Rotterdam–Oslo is an initiative of Dutch and Norwegian companies and knowledge institutions. Its objective is to enable the deployment of green, autonomous, unmanned vessels at IMO level 3 within short sea shipping. A green vessel uses an (almost) emission-free propulsion system, can operate autonomously and unmanned, and is supported by a remote control centre that supports and monitors navigation, propulsion, and port operations.

The core of the Living Lab consists of two newly built vessels (Seashuttles) that Samskip will put into service in 2027 on the Rotterdam–Oslo route. Industry partners equip the vessels with technology for autonomous sailing and remote operation. The vessels provide a platform for practice-oriented research on energy management, maintenance, and remote navigation. Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is one of the leading partners in the project and, as the educator of Maritime Officers, focuses on the business and human capital questions involved.

In maritime research and in the sector, various steps have already been taken to understand how vessels can be effectively and safely managed and controlled remotely. The introduction of international IMO regulations (MASS Code) for remote or unmanned operation is scheduled for 2032. Until that time, tests and pilots can be conducted within the experience-building phase of the voluntary MASS Code. The Living Lab focuses specifically on autonomous, zero-emission vessels because there is limited understanding of how new energy systems can be managed and maintained remotely, and in which situations and for which tasks onboard crew are needed or desirable.

In the coming years, the aim is to understand what effective operational and maintenance strategies for zero-emission systems onboard vessels look like, and under which conditions remote operation is sufficiently safe, feasible, and economically attractive for shipowners and professionals onboard and in port. There is still little to no information on what type of maintenance new energy systems on seagoing vessels require, and where and when this maintenance should or could be carried out. Attention is also needed for how operators in the remote control centre can collaborate effectively with the onboard crew, and the skills required for this collaboration.

Are you the one we’re looking for?

You are curious, have an open attitude and you are interested in practical (design oriented) research. You are a team player as well, focused on collaboration.

You also bring:

• MSc level;
• Experience or affinity with the topic of industrial engineering and human interaction/human factors;
• Preferably 3-5 years of work experience in practice;
• Good oral and written communication skills.

What do we offer?

• Depending on experience between € 3.826,54 - € 5.699,76 gross per month for full time employment (salary scale 10).
• Four year contract (D4).
• 8% vacation pay and 8.3% year-end bonus.
• Excellent training opportunities.
• An attractive pension plan through ABP.
• For internal candidates, further agreements will be made regarding the terms of employment, for example, secondment opportunities.