Sustainable Arctic Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities
Tuesday, June 24 | 15:30–17:00
Location: East Ballroom A/B, Vancouver Convention Centre – East
As Arctic activity accelerates, from shipping and resource development to research and defense, the engineering challenges of operating safely and sustainably in polar regions have never been more urgent. This panel brings together experts from academia, industry, and classification societies to explore the evolving landscape of Arctic engineering.
Topics include:
- Design standards for ice-class ships and offshore platforms
- Risk mitigation in ice-infested waters
- Operational digital twins and real-time ice prediction
- Innovations in propulsion and energy systems
- Sustainability, regulation, and Indigenous engagement
Moderated by Prof. Sören Ehlers, the panel will draw on real-world projects, simulations, and policy considerations to map out the technological frontiers and practical trade-offs shaping the Arctic's future.
Moderator: Prof. Sören Ehlers
Professor, Arctic Technology, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Prof. Sören Ehlers is a leading researcher in Arctic structural design and computational mechanics. He holds the Arctic Technology Chair at NTNU and leads research on ice–structure interaction, risk-based design, and nonlinear finite element methods. He is known for his leadership in large-scale collaborative projects across Europe and has advised industry and regulatory bodies on Arctic safety frameworks.
View more info on Prof. Ehlers here.
Panelist: Prof. Franz von Bock und Polach
Professor of Ship Structural Design, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)
Prof. von Bock is internationally recognized for his work in structural mechanics, fatigue, and design optimization of ice-going and Arctic-class ships. He leads one of Europe’s most active research groups in ship structural safety, and is also the Technical Program Chair for OMAE 2025. His group collaborates closely with shipyards, classification societies, and polar research institutes.
View more info on Prof. von Bock und Polach here.
Panelist: Jessica Fetterman
Chief Engineer, Seaspan Shipyards
Jessica Fetterman brings decades of hands-on leadership in ship design and systems engineering. As Chief Engineer at Seaspan, she oversees technical integration for ship construction and retrofit projects, including vessels intended for Arctic service. Jessica is deeply involved in workforce development and the practical implementation of cutting-edge engineering in shipyards under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
View more info on Ms. Fetterman here.
Panelist: Dan McGreer
Adjunct Professor, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, UBC
With over 30 years of experience in ship design and Arctic vessel development, Dan McGreer combines academic insight with extensive consulting and industrial practice. Formerly Technical Director at Robert Allan Ltd., Dan played a key role in designing icebreakers, escort tugs, and hybrid propulsion vessels. At UBC, he advises on Arctic-capable ship design and sustainable marine operations.
View more info on Mr. McGreer here.
Panelist: Shoubhik Sinha
Technology Director, Elomatic Marine & Offshore
Dr. Sinha leads R&D and innovation in Arctic vessel design and digital engineering at Elomatic, a Finnish engineering and consulting company. His work focuses on hull–ice interaction modeling, winterization strategies, and hybrid power solutions for polar operations. He brings deep insight into simulation-driven design and is active in EU and Arctic Council-related initiatives.
View more info on Dr. Sinha here.
Panelist: Nils Reimer
Project Manager, Ice and Ocean Engineering, HSVA (Hamburg Ship Model Basin)
Nils Reimer manages experimental and numerical research on ice-structure interaction at HSVA, Europe's leading facility for ship model testing in ice. He specializes in full-scale trials, model basin testing under controlled ice conditions, and risk-based evaluation for ice-class vessels and Arctic offshore platforms. His work bridges fundamental research and applied classification.
View more info on Mr. Reimer here.
Panelist: Samuli Hänninen
Technology Manager, ABB Marine & Ports
Samuli Hänninen is responsible for technology strategy and development of advanced propulsion, automation, and energy management systems at ABB, particularly for ice-going and hybrid-electric ships. He has led initiatives in podded propulsion, zero-emission systems, and real-time vessel monitoring for Arctic conditions. Samuli brings a system-level view on how ship design must evolve for resilient Arctic operations.
View more info on Mr. Hänninen here.