This is a key part of PNO Innovation’s contribution to SEAMLESS, where we support the assessment of innovative automated waterborne transport concepts by connecting technological and operational results with their economic, societal and market implications.

As part of this work, Anastasiya Azarko together with SEAMLESS project partners, has co-authored the paper “Comparing Automated Waterborne Transport Concepts: An Integrated Economic and Operational Study”, which will be presented this week at ECONSHIP 2026 – European Conference on Shipping, Intermodalism & Ports in Chios, Greece.

The study applies a common Cost-Benefit Analysis framework applied by PNO to different SEAMLESS use cases to understand what actually drives the viability of automated waterborne transport: from operating costs and vessel utilisation to electrification, modal shift, infrastructure requirements and the characteristics of the logistics chain.

This reflects a broader role of PNO in European transport R&I: helping bridge the gap between technological development and real-world deployment. By combining economic assessment, market understanding and exploitation expertise, we help translate research results into evidence for investment, uptake and future implementation.

Through projects such as SEAMLESS, PNO contributes to building a more competitive, sustainable and innovative European maritime and logistics ecosystem - bringing research closer to the market and innovation closer to impact.