Advancing Sustainability and Safety in Maritime Environments: Insights from the Port of Ravenna Authority Conference

On 9 July 2025, the Port of Ravenna Authority hosted an important dissemination conference dedicated to “Sustainability and Safety in the Maritime and Port Environment.”
The event brought together high-level institutional experts, researchers, and maritime stakeholders for a focused discussion on the future of sustainable and secure port operations, with particular emphasis on emerging technologies.

Key Themes: Sustainability, Digital Innovation, and AI Trustworthiness

The conference explored three interconnected pillars shaping the evolution of modern port ecosystems:

1. Underwater Sustainability

Participants examined the environmental challenges affecting underwater and coastal zones, discussing innovative approaches for monitoring, preservation, and impact reduction. This included a focus on how new technologies can contribute to healthier marine ecosystems and more sustainable port activities.

2. Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Maritime Operations

Speakers highlighted how digital transformation—driven by advanced sensors, data analytics, and AI-enabled systems—is reshaping the efficiency and resilience of port infrastructures.
These technologies offer powerful tools for navigation support, operational optimisation, and real-time environmental monitoring.

3. Trustworthiness of AI Systems in Underwater Robotics

A central point of discussion was the trustworthiness of AI applied to underwater robotics, a domain where safety, reliability, and precision are paramount.
Ensuring that AI-driven underwater systems are transparent, explainable, and robust is essential for their acceptance and safe deployment, especially in environments as sensitive and operationally complex as seaports.

This topic strongly resonates with the principles promoted by the FAITH project, which aims to advance frameworks and methodologies for trustworthy AI across diverse real-world contexts.

A Collaborative Step Toward Safer and More Sustainable Ports

By hosting this conference at its headquarters, the Port of Ravenna Authority reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation while safeguarding environmental integrity and operational safety.
The engaging discussions demonstrated how cross-sector collaboration—between authorities, research institutions, and industry—can accelerate responsible adoption of digital and AI technologies in maritime spaces.