Research directions

RTU Latvian Maritime Academy research directions are developed in accordance with the research interests of RTU Latvian Maritime Academy teaching staff and recommendations of maritime industry representatives, including members of the State Examination Board. The research directions are adapted to the development of individual research papers and diploma papers.

Autonomous shipping	Development of shipbuilding, operation and repair technologies, design and development of ship prototypes Development of ship test basins, research and development of deep-water basin technologies and systems Container ship structural properties and systems research, prototype development of systems and components Research on structural properties and systems for general cargo vessels, development of prototype systems and components Research on structural characteristics and systems for bulk carriers, development of prototype systems and components Research on structural properties and systems for liquid cargo vessels (tankers), development of prototype systems and components Research on structural properties and systems for gas carriers (LNG carriers), prototyping of systems and components Heavy Lift vessel structural properties and systems research, prototyping of systems and components Ro-Ro and Pax ship structural and systems research, prototyping of systems and components Research on cargo systems for oil and chemical tankers, development of prototype systems and components LNG ship cargo systems research, prototyping of systems and components Development of shipborne radio navigation and communication systems Research, development of prototype systems and components for ship power equipment, auxiliaries and auxiliary systems Mathematical modelling of ship propulsion characteristics; Non-destructive inspection and technical diagnostics of ship structures and components, power equipment Predicting the service life of ship structures and components Research, prototyping and development of systems and components for ship control and electrical and automation systems, auxiliaries and ancillary systems Prototyping and installation of liquefied gas power plants on ships Research, prototyping and development of systems and components for offshore structures and systems, energy equipment, electrical systems, auxiliaries and ancillary systems Development and installation of alternative energy sources (solar/wind/wave) on board ships, evaluation and development of biofuel systems Research, development of prototype systems and components for on-board waste water systems for environmental protection Research, development of prototype systems and components for ship ballast water systems for environmental protection Research, prototyping and development of systems and components for shipboard fire-fighting systems Mathematical analysis of passenger traffic occupancy in the Ro-Ro/Pax escape corridors Corrosion protection of ship systems, components and materials, water chemistry Development of remote control systems for cleaning the underwater part of the hull
Digital shipping and cyber-security	Statistical analysis, evaluation and forecasting of cargo and passenger flows Mathematical modelling of cargo transportation, process safety assessment Mathematical modelling of port cargo flows, process safety assessment Analysis and development of maritime supply chains (Chain management) Automation and digitalisation of ship manoeuvring and berthing processes in ports, development of emergency response algorithms Digitisation of pilotage and tugboat operations in ports, emergency forecasting Monitoring of maritime and port security using unmanned aerial vehicles Analysis, evaluation and development of methodologies for rescue and search operations at sea, operational response, digitisation Evaluation and improvement of the ECDIS system Analysis and development of algorithms for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore data transmission systems Use of mobile technologies and equipment in maritime support in complex shipping conditions Development of algorithms for cyber security on board ships and in shipping companies Digitisation of ship and shipping company internal audits and inspections Development of digital algorithms for ship maintenance procedures and assessment of maintenance Cost-effectiveness analysis, forecasting and financial planning for shipping companies Analysis, evaluation and integration of maritime law and ship chartering, insurance aspects Ice navigation manoeuvring and automated route development Regulatory analysis and improvement in Latvia Ship collision and casualty analysis
Smart port	Container and general cargo port terminal research and design in CAD environment Research and design of bulk port terminals in CAD environment Liquid Cargo Port Terminal Studies and Design in CAD Environment Gas Cargo Port Terminal Studies and Design in CAD Environment Ro-Ro/Pax port terminal studies and design in CAD environment Heavy Lift Port Terminal Studies and Design in CAD Environment Design and Development of Port Auxiliary Fleet Vessels Mathematical modelling of passenger evacuation flows in ports Design of exhaust control and detection systems in port areas Development of ship effluent control and detection systems in port areas Development of ship oil and chemical pollution control and detection systems in port areas Development and installation of alternative energy sources (solar/wind/wave) on board ships, evaluation and development of biofuel systems Development of Vapour Emission Control systems at oil and chemical terminals Non-destructive inspection and technical diagnostics of liquid cargo tanks in port areas Design, prototyping of systems and components for port equipment Analysis and assessment of the impact of port operations on environmental processes at sea Development and establishment of wind farms in territorial waters and coastal areas Analysis and possible development of coastal fixed navigation equipment Development of ice navigation solutions in ports Operational safety assessment of berths, design of berths in CAD environment Hydrographic depth measurements of harbour ship channels using unmanned vehicles Design and development of an automatic mooring system for a ship berth Development of an intelligent shore-side power connection Development of a dry dock pit cleaning system for ships
Other	Maritime education and the human factor in transport safety History of Baltic shipping