On June 13, 2025, the Inno2Mare project partners had the pleasure of visiting the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Portorož, Slovenia — a faculty with a proud legacy of 60 years in maritime education and research within University of Ljubljana.
We were warmly welcomed by Asst. Prof. Dr. Tanja Brčko, who guided us through an inspiring tour of the faculty’s state-of-the-art facilities and ongoing research initiatives. The visit focused on exploring the faculty’s education and research infrastructure in the domain of maritime systems, with a special emphasis on their simulator laboratories and their on-site educational port.
Our first stop was the Laboratory for Virtual Simulations of Ship Operations, where we saw how students are trained to navigate and control vessels using specialized simulation software and dedicated control units mounted on PCs. This lab allows parallel, hands-on training, enabling students to experience realistic scenarios collaboratively. Prof. Brčko gave a presentation on the methods used to train the future Slovenian captains with the help of the state-of-the-art simulation platforms, an important aspect of this presentation was the live data ingestion from Port of Koper into the simulation systems for the training of students on realistic scenarios.
Next, we explored another impressive simulator lab — this one dedicated to ship cockpit simulation and control. Here, we observed master’s students working on real-time research projects using a cockpit emulator setup that closely mirrors actual ship operations. The immersive, highly realistic environment stood out as a highlight of the visit.
Prof. Brčko also introduced to the ingenious crane simulation platform built and operated by the researchers at the faculty of maritime studies. Subsequently, we saw a more advanced simulation platform which is located within the Port of Koper. This showed that students are getting a broader education program at the faculty, which also gives them a glimpse on the port operations.
During a presentation in the simulation lab, Dr. Brčko introduced the faculty’s research and development capabilities, providing insight into their work in marine systems, innovation, and industry collaboration.
This visit was not only an opportunity to witness cutting-edge educational practices in maritime studies but also a celebration of six decades of excellence at the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Portorož.
To conclude the tour, we walked down to a small educational marine port located right on the beach, just steps away from the main building. This practical facility adds further depth to the hands-on training opportunities offered at the faculty. The educational port included a small dock where students can get hands-on experience piloting different vessels, as well a training set-up to train students in the use of various evacuation systems often present on board ships.
We left impressed and inspired by the faculty’s commitment to innovation, hands-on learning, and fostering the next generation of maritime professionals.
