Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor

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The Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor Rotterdam-Oslo project supports the maritime sector in its transition towards sustainable and digital shipping. Driven by new emissions regulations, emerging clean energy technologies, and a declining number of seafarers, the sector requires new skills and more attractive, future-proof jobs.

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Introduction

The maritime sector is facing major transformations driven by the energy transition and digitalization. The implementation of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the upcoming IMO Net-Zero regulations in 2027 are putting pressure on shipping companies to make their fleets more sustainable. This requires a transition to zero-emission energy systems such as hydrogen, methanol, or ammonia. These systems demand not only technological modifications to vessels, but also new skills for crew members and maintenance personnel. At the same time, the sector is struggling with a declining number of seafarers, increasing the need to redesign functions and make maritime careers more attractive.

Digitalization enables ships to be monitored and partially operated remotely. This creates opportunities for new business models and innovative ways of working, such as remote operations and autonomous navigation. Shipping companies and ports in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region can use these developments to respond to the changing division of roles between onboard crew, shore-based operators, and port personnel.

Project description

The Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor Rotterdam-Oslo project addresses crucial human capital questions: what tasks and skills are required for managing new energy systems, which maintenance strategies are effective, and how will collaboration between crew members, autonomous systems, and remote operators evolve? In addition, the project examines how these changes affect maritime job profiles and what adjustments are needed in maritime education within the region.

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Communications

The project addresses these challenges by creating an experimental environment and conducting practical research aboard a hydrogen-powered vessel developed by Samskip (SeaShuttles). Starting in 2027, this container ship will operate between Rotterdam and Oslo and is technically prepared for autonomous operations. The Living Lab will function as a testing environment for experimentation with energy management, maintenance, and navigation, both onboard and remotely through a Remote Control Centre (RCC). The Living Lab includes advanced technologies such as hydrogen-powered ships, energy management systems, autonomous navigation systems, and onboard data and communication platforms. Over a three-year period, the Living Lab will generate operational data from some of the most advanced vessels in Europe. An RCC will be established at the RDM campus of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences for educational purposes and research experiments.

Project approach

The project will deliver:

insight into the required tasks and skills for energy management and maintenance on zero-emission vessels
insight into the possibilities and trade-offs in the division of tasks between ships and ports
insight into the required competencies for remote operations in energy management, maintenance of energy systems, and navigation, and
a roadmap for education and training in the Rijnmond region.

In this way, the project will create a future-proof approach to educating and deploying personnel in a rapidly changing sector.

connection to education

The project will develop educational modules for higher professional education (HBO) and vocational education (MBO) in maritime and inland shipping. MBO inland shipping students will be trained in remotely operating inland vessels. Maritime Officer students will work with educational modules focused on energy management challenges related to zero-emission energy carriers, primarily hydrogen. In addition, the Living Lab will offer a broad range of research assignments for students in economic, technological, logistics, and maritime programmes at HBO and Master’s level. These opportunities will be available not only to students of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, but also to students from other universities and universities of applied sciences in the region.

(Intended) Results

The aim of the Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor project is to support the maritime sector in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region in the energy and digital transition by:

providing insights into task allocation and the required competencies of professionals onboard, in remote operation centres, and in ports for zero-emission and autonomous vessels, and by developing a human capital roadmap;
developing educational programmes and training facilities for the remote operation of seagoing vessels within maritime education in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region;
establishing a Living Lab Green & Autonomous Corridor aboard a zero-emission Samskip vessel, where companies, knowledge institutions, and educational institutions can jointly innovate and learn in the field of remote maintenance and operation of short sea shipping vessels

Samenwerking

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the following partners: Samskip, Zeabuz, Techbinder, Seafar, Captain AI, Gemeente Rotterdam, STC, ABB, TU Delft, Smart Ship en MARIN. In addition, collaboration with other human capital programmes in the region and at national level, such as GroenvermogenNL, NGF People, JTF Port of Energy, and Maritiem Masterplan contributes to the sustainable strengthening, scaling, and embedding of the project’s results within the broader human capital agenda for the energy transition in the port logistics and maritime ecosystem of the Rijnmond region.

project facts

Duration 1 January 2026 - 31 December 2029
Funding JTF Just Transition Fund
Research group Port
Cluster Smart Logistics and Maritime Innovation

For the latest research updates and project highlights, visit www.hogeschoolrotterdam.nl/onderzoek (Dutch only).