Abstract. Although approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans, the exploration and sustainable development of the marine environment are still in their early stages. EvoLogics, a company specializing in advanced underwater communication and positioning technologies, contributes to this effort through ongoing technological innovation. In his keynote, Fabian Bannasch will present EvoLogics' award-winning bionic submersible robots that are inspired by the form and movement of penguins and manta rays. Designed for diverse operating environments, these systems support a wide range of applications: from measuring salinity and temperature in the ocean over assessing water quality in rivers to identifying ecologically sensitive zones to be preserved during deep-sea mining activities. In addition, the robots can assist in inspecting underwater infrastructure such as pipelines and the foundations of offshore wind turbines. Fabian will illustrate how these robotic systems are part of a larger, networked underwater ecosystem. Combined with the innovative use of artificial intelligence, they enable new maritime applications that improve the maintenance and protection of critical infrastructure.

Biography. Fabian Bannasch holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics from Humboldt University in Berlin and an MBA from the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), also in Berlin. He began his career as an R&D engineer and assistant manager at EvoLogics before joining McKinsey & Company in 2009. There, he held various consulting roles and eventually became a senior expert in product development. His work focused on product strategy, technology roadmaps, product excellence, and R&D process optimization across industries including automotive, mechanical engineering, industrial goods, high-tech, and consumer electronics. In 2020, Fabian returned to EvoLogics as Managing Director and owner, leading the company in its second generation. Since then, EvoLogics has expanded with new divisions in Robotics, Sensor Systems, and Artificial Intelligence, while continuing to advance underwater communication and positioning technologies. Outside the office, Fabian is often found around the water—both below and above the surface—as a certified rescue diver, a licensed pilot, and currently as a trainer of a water rescue dog.

Abstract. Although approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans, the exploration and sustainable development of the marine environment are still in their early stages. EvoLogics, a company specializing in advanced underwater communication and positioning technologies, contributes to this effort through ongoing technological innovation. In his keynote, Fabian Bannasch will present EvoLogics' award-winning bionic submersible robots that are inspired by the form and movement of penguins and manta rays. Designed for diverse operating environments, these systems support a wide range of applications: from measuring salinity and temperature in the ocean over assessing water quality in rivers to identifying ecologically sensitive zones to be preserved during deep-sea mining activities. In addition, the robots can assist in inspecting underwater infrastructure such as pipelines and the foundations of offshore wind turbines. Fabian will illustrate how these robotic systems are part of a larger, networked underwater ecosystem. Combined with the innovative use of artificial intelligence, they enable new maritime applications that improve the maintenance and protection of critical infrastructure.

Biography. Fabian Bannasch holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics from Humboldt University in Berlin and an MBA from the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), also in Berlin. He began his career as an R&D engineer and assistant manager at EvoLogics before joining McKinsey & Company in 2009. There, he held various consulting roles and eventually became a senior expert in product development. His work focused on product strategy, technology roadmaps, product excellence, and R&D process optimization across industries including automotive, mechanical engineering, industrial goods, high-tech, and consumer electronics. In 2020, Fabian returned to EvoLogics as Managing Director and owner, leading the company in its second generation. Since then, EvoLogics has expanded with new divisions in Robotics, Sensor Systems, and Artificial Intelligence, while continuing to advance underwater communication and positioning technologies. Outside the office, Fabian is often found around the water—both below and above the surface—as a certified rescue diver, a licensed pilot, and currently as a trainer of a water rescue dog.

Abstract. For decades, this phrase could be taken quite literally in the field of ocean engineering. Preparing systems to withstand the physical forces of nature has long been at the core of maritime design. But today, resilience must go far beyond structural integrity. As maritime systems become increasingly complex, automated, and interconnected, engineers and operators face a new wave of challenges. Cybersecurity threats, dual-use concerns, and evolving safety demands are reshaping what it means to build and maintain trust in maritime environments. This keynote explores how our understanding of resilience must evolve to meet these multidimensional risks—before the next storm hits, in every sense of the word.

Biography. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kosleck has held the Chair of Ocean Engineering at the University of Rostock since July 2019. Prior to this, he led the Maritime Engineering Department at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand for six years. His academic career began with a degree in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin in 2004, followed by his doctorate in 2013 with the dissertation titled "Prediction of Wave-Structure Interaction by Advanced Wave Field Forecast." For this work, he was awarded the Curt Bartsch Prize by the German Society for Maritime Technology. Prof. Kosleck’s research focuses on the hydrodynamics of offshore structures, the development of deterministic wave forecasting, and the optimization of systems for offshore oil spill recovery. He is also involved in the development of underwater technologies with a focus on pressure-tolerant systems for deep-sea operations. As Head of the Department of Maritime Systems at the Interdisciplinary Faculty of the University of Rostock and Co-Spokesperson of the Ocean Technology Campus Rostock, he is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and to training the next generation of engineers in the sustainable use of marine resources.

Abstract. For decades, this phrase could be taken quite literally in the field of ocean engineering. Preparing systems to withstand the physical forces of nature has long been at the core of maritime design. But today, resilience must go far beyond structural integrity. As maritime systems become increasingly complex, automated, and interconnected, engineers and operators face a new wave of challenges. Cybersecurity threats, dual-use concerns, and evolving safety demands are reshaping what it means to build and maintain trust in maritime environments. This keynote explores how our understanding of resilience must evolve to meet these multidimensional risks—before the next storm hits, in every sense of the word.

Biography. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kosleck has held the Chair of Ocean Engineering at the University of Rostock since July 2019. Prior to this, he led the Maritime Engineering Department at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand for six years. His academic career began with a degree in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin in 2004, followed by his doctorate in 2013 with the dissertation titled "Prediction of Wave-Structure Interaction by Advanced Wave Field Forecast." For this work, he was awarded the Curt Bartsch Prize by the German Society for Maritime Technology. Prof. Kosleck’s research focuses on the hydrodynamics of offshore structures, the development of deterministic wave forecasting, and the optimization of systems for offshore oil spill recovery. He is also involved in the development of underwater technologies with a focus on pressure-tolerant systems for deep-sea operations. As Head of the Department of Maritime Systems at the Interdisciplinary Faculty of the University of Rostock and Co-Spokesperson of the Ocean Technology Campus Rostock, he is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and to training the next generation of engineers in the sustainable use of marine resources.