Call to Order and Conference Welcome
Rear Admiral James A. Watson (USCG-Ret.), Chair of the Conference Planning Committee

Opening Remarks
Ashley Chappell, Executive Director, US Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS)
CMTS Coordinating Board Chair from U.S. Coast Guard

Living Room Session - Federal and Industry Perspectives on Marine Safety and Security:  What Keeps You Up at Night?

• Vice Admiral Peter Gautier, Deputy Commandant for Operations, US Coast Guard

• Ted Tregurtha, President & CEO, Moran Towing

Plenary Session - Innovative Approaches for Emerging Security, Safety and Resiliency Concerns

The maritime industry is rapidly adopting innovative technologies including innovative power systems, increased automation, and autonomous operations which often outpace safety regulations. Key concerns include ensuring operational technology cybersecurity, potential threat vectors from unvetted technology and equipment providers, and potential new hazards that present with the adoption of innovative technologies.  Innovative technologies also offer new compliance and enforcement opportunities, such as employing digital twins and digitalization. This session will explore emerging regulatory compliance and enforcement challenges and opportunities as well as innovative approaches to ensure safety, security, and resiliency in the maritime industry due to these advancements.

• Rear Admiral Wayne Arguin, U.S. Coast Guard

• David Walker, American Bureau of Shipping

• Eric Christensen, Passenger Vessel Association

Student Honor Panel

• The Invisible Crew: How AI is Reshaping Maritime Workforces and Global Training Standards
  Orkhan Khalilov, Texas Southern University

• Adaptive AI-Agent for Marine Freight Routing and Scheduling 
  Niping Duan, University of Maryland

• Enhancing Safety, Infrastructure, and Intermodal Connectivity in Inland Waterway and Marine Freight Transport 
  Juana Jaramillo-Rios, University of Missouri - St. Louis

• Modeling the Severity of Economic, Environmental, and Safety Consequences in U.S. Vessel Incidents 
  Bo-Yang Wang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Afternoon Break

Plenary Session - Marine Transportation System (MTS) Operational and Economic Resilience – Part I

This “living-room style” session will seek to frame the trends, needs, and issues facing the marine transportation system related to infrastructure and operations in times of disruption.  Panelists will engage in a moderated conversation and offer their unique perspectives on how data, technology, and innovation have helped with past disruptions and can help prepare for and respond to future disruptive events.

• Anne Strauss-Wieder, Rutgers University

• Mike Edgerton, Director of Security, PANYNJ

Plenary Session - Marine Transportation System (MTS) Operational and Economic Resilience: Part II

This session will examine the impacts of larger vessels, power systems, and innovations in cargo handling on system capacity, operational efficiency, safety and security. Key aspects for discussion will include risk assessment methodologies, emergency response protocols, and education and training needs and capacities.

• Jan Hoffmann, Global Practice Manager, The World Bank

• Dr. Andrew Spencer, President, Caribbean Maritime University

• Rear Admiral David M. Wulf, Deputy Superintendent, US Merchant Marine Academy

Concurrent Technical Breakout Sessions I

Session 1A: Maritime Safety and Security

Session 1B: Maritime Transportation System Operational and Economic Resilience

Session 1C: Data Integration and Artificial Intelligence

Keynote: Cybersecurity in Maritime

Rear Admiral John W. Mauger (USCG-Ret.) Former Director, Joint Training and Exercises (J7), U.S. Cyber Command (2018 to 2020) and Former Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (2021-2022)

Concurrent Technical Breakout Sessions II

Session 2A: Maritime Safety and Security II

Session 2B: Maritime Transportation System Operational and Economic Resilience II

Concurrent Technical Breakout Sessions III

Session 3A - Maritime Safety and Security III

Session 3B - Marine Transportation System Operational and Economic Resilience III

Conference Closing Session

This open forum interactive session will bring forward the key maritime innovative science and technology concepts, research needs, and lessons learned identified during the conference for future consideration and R&D activity.