COAST Theatre: a focus on innovation in coastal and shallow-water environments
The launch of the COAST Theatre as a dedicated conference track adds a new dimension to Oceanology International 2026, expanding the focus and reinforcing the importance of coastal resilience, infrastructure and engineering. By broadening its scope while maintaining its technical depth, Oceanology International continues to serve as a meeting point for professionals working across ocean engineering, science and technology. The 2026 programme underscores the sector’s shared priorities: advancing innovation, supporting sustainable development and strengthening collaboration across disciplines.
Oceanology International’s conference programme brings together leading voices, emerging technologies and the most pressing challenges shaping the future of ocean science and marine technology. With contributions from scientists, industry experts, policymakers and innovators from across the global ocean technology community, the event offers a comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and practical insight. Covering a wide range of themes – from marine robotics and autonomous systems to underwater imaging, environmental monitoring and sustainable oceanography – the programme is designed to support professionals seeking to strengthen their understanding of current developments and connect with peers across the sector.
Ocean Futures Theatre and Technical Sessions
At the centre of the exhibition floor, the Ocean Futures Theatre will host thought leaders from industry, academia and government. Discussions will focus on how emerging market developments and new ocean enterprise strategies are shaping future technology needs. The theatre is intended as a meeting point for forward-looking dialogue on innovation, policy and implementation.
Alongside this, the Technical Sessions will provide in-depth presentations rooted in real-world applications. Delivered by and for industry professionals, these sessions will explore key operational areas including hydrography, ocean observation, site investigation and uncrewed vehicles. The emphasis lies on practical insight and technical depth, reflecting the realities of day-to-day work across the marine technology branch.
Introducing the COAST Theatre
A new addition for 2026, the COAST Theatre introduces a dedicated conference track focused on innovation in coastal and shallow-water environments. The programme highlights topics such as coastal zone management, environmental protection in coastal waters, ports and terminals, and infrastructure protection. It will also cover developments in areas such as erosion control, sediment transport analysis, shoreline stabilization and climate adaptation.
Together, these themes reflect a growing recognition of the coastal zone as a critical interface between marine and land-based systems. By placing greater emphasis on the coastal domain, this new track expands the scope of the event to address areas where technological development and operational demands are rapidly evolving. The initiative reinforces the importance of coastal resilience, engineering and infrastructure within the broader ocean technology landscape.
Some of the highlights in the COAST Theatre
- Coastal Zone Management (Tuesday 10 March, 11:30-13:00)
This keynote and panel session opens the COAST Theatre programme. It will examine how advanced marine technologies, integrated data systems and spatial planning approaches are reshaping the management of coastal areas. The keynote will be delivered by Oscar Pyrgies, marine spatial planning manager at The Crown Estate, who will outline the organization’s strategic approach to managing the UK seabed. His presentation will focus on integrating environmental data, marine spatial planning and collaborative engagement to support offshore development while safeguarding natural capital. Subsequently, the expert panel will discuss integrated coastal zone management, highlighting cross-sector collaboration between government, industry and NGOs. The discussion will focus on how data-driven decision-making can support balanced, sustainable use of the seabed and nearshore waters.
- Ports and Terminals (Wednesday 11 March, 14:10-15:40)
This keynote and panel session explores how technological developments are influencing hydrographic surveying, navigation, digital twins and environmental monitoring in port environments. The discussion will centre on how port operators, service providers and innovators are adopting new tools and data frameworks to enhance efficiency, safety and environmental performance. Real-world experiences and practical implementation will form a key part of the session.
- Maritime Surveillance, Safety and Infrastructure Protection (Thursday 12 March, 12:20-13:50)
This session will start with a keynote, delivered by Andy Liddell, head of maritime uncrewed and offboard systems at the Royal Navy. He will address the growing importance of surveillance in protecting maritime infrastructure, including offshore energy assets and communication networks. This will be followed by a panel discussion examining how new generations of uncrewed platforms, data fusion and AI-driven systems are strengthening maritime domain awareness and supporting infrastructure protection in an era of rapid digital and operational change.
