Department of Marine Systems

The Department of Marine Systems at the Estonian Marine Institute conducts multidisciplinary research based on a systems-theoretic approach. Its work focuses on marine environmental risk assessment, safety management, and the development of operational tools for oil spill response. The Department actively participates in research coordinated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

Major research topics

• Application of the System Theoretic Accident Modelling and Processes (STAMP) approach to the maritime safety domain;
• Development of the STAMP-Mar research concept for dynamic safety management of the eco-socio-technical maritime navigation system, integrating existing, developing, and future systems to ensure system safety, joint connectivity, and situational awareness;
• Development of the Next Generation SmartResponse Web (NG-SRW) based on a concept of Cooperating Smart Spaces, providing an information-sharing platform to maintain and distribute common situational awareness;
• Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP)-related environmental management, including creation of marine and coastal vulnerability and risk profiles, „Environmental Management Strategy for MSP“, and „Guidelines on Environmental Management for Sustainable Maritime Spatial Planning“;
• Coherent Linear Infrastructures in Baltic Maritime Spatial Plans - identification of transnational and cross-sectoral planning issues;
• Baltic blue mussel farming - developing and implementing a factual approach to decision-making using a GIS-enabled Operational Decision Support System (ODSS) as a user-friendly web application;
• Baltic Sea Region Integrated Maritime Cultural Heritage Management.