SPECIALLY ORGANIZED SESSIONS/WORKSHOPS

Chaired by Rendong Xu of Hainan Provincial Society for Oceanography, and Yijun Shen of Hainan University

Time: 2:00pm – 5:30pm, May 26th, 2026                    Location: 3rd Floor, Ballroom B1

To the Sea and Collaboration, Intelligence and Global Perception Network — Data Validity and International Standardization of Intelligent Marine Equipment:

1. From Isolated Islands to the Ocean — Sharing, Interoperability and Governance Boundaries of Global Multi-source Data

Focus on data infrastructure issues under the framework of United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development plan. Observation satellites, buoy arrays and research vessels from various countries generate data in diverse formats and cross-border data flow faces the tension between security and openness, which has long been a challenge for the global marine science community.

2. Who Endorses Marine Trial Results? — International Mutual Recognition Path for Marine Equipment Reliability Verification

It is a common challenge facing the global marine technology industry. The aviation industry has established mutual recognition systems represented by FAA and EASA, while no similar mechanism exists for marine equipment industry. Whether the test results of an enterprise's AUV in the North Sea can be recognized by mining companies in the Southern Hemisphere? The lack of such mutual recognition has severely hindered the global development of the industry.

3. Game Rules in Unmanned Deep Sea — Operation Specifications and International Standardization Consensus for Autonomous Systems

It is a technical governance issue concerning the future order of global oceans. The number of AUVs, unmanned surface vessels and underwater drones has surged in global sea areas, yet industry ethics, collision avoidance rules and environmental impact assessment standards lag far behind industrial development. IMO is discussing rules for autonomous vessels and ISO is promoting standards for underwater robots, both progressing much slower than industrial boom.

Chaired by Fangjiong Chen of South China University of Technology, Yan Wei of Zhejiang University, and Xiaoxiao Zhuo of Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm, May 27th, 2026                   Location: 3rd Floor, Ballroom B1

Underwater acoustic signal serve as the foundational backbone for a wide array of oceanic activities, from scientific exploration to environmental monitoring and industrial operations. However, the underwater acoustic communication, localization and sensing presents several challenges, including limited bandwidth, long propagation delays, and delay-Doppler double spreading. Recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift, with artificial intelligence (AI) including deep learning (DL), reinforcement learning (RL), graph neural network (GNN) , edge AI, and large language models (LLMs), emerging as powerful tools to transcend the limitations of traditional model-based approaches. This workshop will explore research on AI-empowered waveform design, modulation, coding, signal processing, channel estimation, adaptive channel modeling and equalization, intelligent medium access control (MAC), and routing protocol design. The integration of these data-driven techniques is paving the way for more efficient, robust, and intelligent underwater acoustic systems capable of operating reliably in dynamic and harsh environments.

This workshop invites oral presentations that delve into the principles, algorithms, and practical implementations of AI-empowered underwater acoustic communication, localization, and sensing. Topics include AI-aided signal processing, GNN for routing and MAC protocols, reinforcement learning for network management and resource allocation, underwater acoustic localization, underwater acoustic sensing, and cross-medium communication, with particular interests in working prototypes, experimental results from field trials, or simulation platforms. The primary goal is to foster a collaborative presentation and discussion on AI-driven solutions from theoretical frameworks to real-world, at-sea validation, thereby accelerating the development of next-generation "AI-native" underwater acoustic communication and networking.

Chaired by Hui Zhou of Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Subrata Sarker of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Time: 2:00pm – 5:30pm, May 27th, 2026                    Location: 3rd Floor, Ballroom B1

Against the backdrop of accelerating global climate change, coastal zones—where 70% of the world's population is projected to reside by the end of this century—face unprecedented threats from marine environmental changes and disasters. However, most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which host the majority of global coastal areas, suffer from insufficient marine observation capabilities due to high-cost equipment, complex operation requirements, and lack of localized technical support. This gap not only endangers local communities but also hinders the establishment of a harmonized global coastal observation system, limiting the calibration and validation of marine models and satellite data.

Centered on the core objectives of "Addressing Global Warming Threats through Marine Observation Systems and AI Customizability (MOSAIC)" international big science program (led by the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) and POGO-supported projects "Social AGITation for Temperature Analysis (SAGITA)", this workshop aims to build a collaborative platform for global experts, practitioners, and stakeholders. It focuses on two interrelated pillars: the development of low-cost, customizable marine observation instruments and AI-powered marine model construction and observation network optimization.

The workshop will delve into key topics including: the co-design of modular, userfriendly low-cost observation equipment based on embedded systems and Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) communication technologies; the integration of lowcost sensors with data acquisition and transmission systems while ensuring accuracy and stability; the application of AI algorithms in optimizing observation network layout, enhancing data quality, and improving marine environmental simulation and disaster forecasting capabilities; and capacity-building strategies for LMICs to achieve longterm sustainability and local ownership of observation systems. By facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborative discussions, the workshop seeks to address the technical bottlenecks and capacity gaps in coastal marine observation for LMICs, promote the improvement of the global marine observation system, and ultimately strengthen the resilience of coastal communities in LMICs to climate change and marine disasters, in alignment with the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033) and the roadmap of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

Chaired by Ye Li of Sustech, and Hong Chen of PJM

Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm, May 28th, 2026                   Location: 3rd Floor, Ballroom B1

The IEEE Alternative Energy Generation and Storage Initiative promotes emerging technologies in energy generation and storage to meet the needs of terrestrial, ocean, and space applications. The initiative supports the transition to net-zero by expanding focus into less-covered areas such as advanced nuclear reactors and fusion energy, geothermal energy, biomass, ocean- and space-based power generation, hydrogen, and innovative storage technologies.

The AEGS second workshop will be held in conjunction with the 2026 IEEE OCEANS Conference & Exposition, and will bring together experts from academia and industry to discuss emerging technologies in energy generation and energy storage that support the global transition to net-zero.

Chaired by M. A. Atmanand of Indian Institute of Technology

Time: 8:30am – 10:00pm, May 28th, 2026               Location: 1M Floor, Function Room E

This session will take stock of how far the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) has advanced the engineering needed for "the science we need for the ocean we want," with a particular focus on technology and systems relevant to IEEE OES communities.

Step into the front line of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and help define the engineering legacy it will leave behind. This special session solicits authors who are building the tools, systems, and infrastructure that can turn Ocean Decade ambitions into operational reality. Topics may include advanced ocean observing architectures and sustained observing networks; resilient sensors and platforms for extreme and under-sampled environments; digital twins and dynamic ocean mapping; edge-cloud data pipelines and open ocean data ecosystems; AI- and ML-enabled prediction and decision-support; and engineering solutions for climate resilience, coastal risk reduction, sustainable blue food and low-carbon maritime operations. Addressing scalability, interoperability, cost reduction, and capacity development—especially in the Global South, SIDS, and data-poor regions—is particularly of interests, as are case studies from endorsed Decade programs and Vision 2030 "challenge" roadmaps.

Chaired by Fei Ji, Yan Wang of South China University of Technology, and Hao Zhao of Guangzhou Maritime University

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm, May 26th, 2026                Location: 1M Floor, Function Room C

Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in investigating methodologies for deploying, controlling, and establishing communication among heterogeneous nodes to build a cross-domain network, which is envisioned to connect nodes from the deep sea to low-altitude aircraft and even space satellites, crossing the water-air interface and beyond. Several fields have seen rapid progress from theoretical frameworks to practical implementations, such as cross-interface multimodal communication, cross-domain swarm control, and space-air-ground integrated networking. At the same time, recent technological advances, including bionic robots, Generative AI, semantic communication, and model-free learning, are being applied to build more efficient, robust, and intelligent cross-domain networks. These technologies complement traditional methods and enable real-time, scalable applications across diverse sectors, including oceanic exploration, environmental monitoring, species conservation, and disaster warning systems.

This special technical session includes original contributions that explore the fundamental principles, architectures, and applications of cross-domain networks. Topics may include framework, deployment, robot, formation control, mission allocation, communication, detection, and experimental validation in cross-domain networks. Works that demonstrate working prototypes, cross-disciplinary methodologies, or address practical constraints is of particular interests.

Chaired by Xiaofan Li of the University of Hong Kong, and Zechuan Lin of Maynooth University

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm, May 27th, 2026                Location: 1M Floor, Function Room E

Ocean waves represent one of the most abundant and predictable renewable energy sources, with vast potential to contribute to the global clean energy transition. However, the commercialization of wave energy converters (WECs) remains limited. The main challenges include the low power capture width ratio from waves, high energy conversion losses due to frequent zero-crossing operation of the generator, and long-term reliability issues arising from the harsh and variable marine environment, all resulting in a high levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Among all subsystems, the power take-off (PTO) and control systems play pivotal roles in addressing these challenges. The PTO, including aerodynamic/hydraulic/mechanical transmission, electrical generators, and power electronic converters, determines the efficiency and reliability of the system, while the adoption of advanced control strategies can further enhance wave energy capture, reduce energy losses, and monitor and manage system health in the long term.

This special session provides a platform for researchers and industry experts to share recent advances in power take-off (PTO) and control technologies for wave energy converters (WECs). It highlights innovative, high-performance PTO concepts, advanced and intelligent control strategies, and integrated design methodologies that improve the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of WECs. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, this session aims to advance next-generation wave energy technologies for sustainable ocean energy exploitation.

Chaired by Zheng Zeng of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Time: 8:30am – 10:00pm, May 27th, 2026                   Location: 3rd Floor, Ballroom B3

This session focuses on cross-domain intelligent marine robots. Participants exchange frontier research on cross-medium maneuvering, intelligent sensing and autonomous control of hybrid aerial underwater vehicles. Latest technical progress and core challenges of HAUV systems are discussed for practical marine applications.

If interested to join, you are welcome to contact the the corresponding session/workshop chair(s) for details. When you submit an abstract to those specially organized sessions/workshops, please indicate the submission is invited by the corresponding chair(s) for the session/workshop during the submission procedure (there is an optional question to respond).