(NEWS) WMU Co-hosts COLP49 on Maritime Security in the Mediterranean

October

2026

WMU Co-hosts COLP49 on Maritime Security in the Mediterranean

The World Maritime University (WMU)-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) co-hosted the 49th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP49), “Maritime Security in the Mediterranean Sea & Beyond,” on 21–22 September in Athens, Greece. Organized in partnership with the Athens Public International Law Center and the Stockton Center for International Law of the U.S. Naval War College, the conference brought together international experts and stakeholders to examine contemporary challenges in maritime security, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region.

Discussions explored the evolving legal, technological and environmental dimensions of maritime security, including the role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in global regulatory frameworks, the protection of ocean resources and biodiversity, and compliance and enforcement in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). Participants also examined the implications of advances in ocean observation systems, marine scientific research, robotics and artificial intelligence, alongside emerging challenges related to maritime infrastructure, migration, extreme weather and environmental change.

In addition to co-hosting the conference, WMU made substantial contributions to the programme. Professor Ronán Long, Director of WMU-GOI, co-delivered the welcome address and chaired a panel on maritime security and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), examining the Organization’s role in developing effective global regulatory and governance frameworks. WMU faculty also chaired sessions on ocean observation systems, marine scientific research, robotics and artificial intelligence, and the maritime security dimensions of ocean resources and biodiversity.

WMU researchers presented work on biologging data, marine biodiversity and bathymetry data, the security implications of drones, and the role of submarine cables and cabled ocean observatories in maritime infrastructure. Their contributions also included research on ocean observation and submarine cables in the Mediterranean and multilateral frontiers. WMU representatives further served as rapporteurs in several sessions.

The conference underscored the increasingly interconnected nature of maritime security challenges and the need for international cooperation, robust legal frameworks and interdisciplinary research to support effective responses. It also reinforced WMU’s engagement in international dialogue on ocean governance, maritime law and security.

COLP49 was delivered with the support of The Nippon Foundation and international academic partners, including the Korea Maritime Institute, the Naval War College Foundation and the Japan Institute of International Affairs.

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