From October 9 to 11, 2024, the Annual General Assembly (AGA) and Conference of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) supported by the Nippon Foundation took place in Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, USA. The National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” (NUOMA) was represented at these events by the Rector of NUOMA Professor Mykhaylo Miyusov and senior lecturer of the Department of Ship Handling Dmytro Zhukov. The IAMU AGA is a forum for information exchange, policy approval, the development and strengthening of good relations and cooperation between IAMU member universities. The opening ceremony of the Assembly was addressed by the U.S. Department Transportation Maritime Administrator Rear Admiral Ann Phillips, the President of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, the Chairman of the Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa, the Chair of IAMU – the President of the Gdynia Maritime University Professor Adam Weintrit, and the Executive Director of IAMU Professor Takeshi Nakazawa.

According to tradition, the President’s Forum was held – a meeting at which the presidents (rectors) of the member universities of IAMU discuss policy issues and areas of activity of IAMU, taking into account academic relations between member universities, as well as economic and technological developments in the international maritime community.

The plenary meeting provided the representatives of the member universities with the opportunity to review the activities of the IAMU, to approve the policies, programs and budget of the IAMU in accordance with the recommendations of the International Executive Board (IEB). The IAMU Chairman and Executive Director on behalf of the IEB reported to the member universities on the decisions of the IEB and IAMU committees.

The winners of the research project competition were determined, the experts of the IAMU were awarded and the members of the IAMU were appointed to represent the IAMU at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) events. NUOMA representative Dmytro Zhukov was assigned to represent IAMU at the 110th meeting of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110). The venue for the next IAMU Assembly has been approved – AMET University, Chennai, India, October 2025. By decision of the IEB of the association, NUOMA Rector Professor Mykhaylo Miyusov has been conferred the title of Honorary Fellow of IAMU “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to maritime education and training, his exemplary leadership at the National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” and his dedicated service to IAMU`s global initiatives”. The corresponding certificate was presented at the plenary session of the assembly by Professor Adam Weintrit, the IAMU Chair.

At the IAMU conference, scientists and lecturers of IAMU member universities had the opportunity to present the results of their academic/scientific research to the IAMU community. The IAMU conference was organized by the local executive committee and the International Program Committee of IAMU. More than 60 papers were presented during the IAMU Conference.

NUOMA was represented by presentations: “Wind-assisted propulsion system operating mode optimization” (authors – Mykhaylo Miyusov, Oleksandr Kryvyi, Dmytro Zhukov) and “New challenges for Black Sea region Ecology” (authors – Mykhaylo Miyusov, Ihor Vorohobin, Dmytro Zhukov). Conference proceedings are published in a book indexed by Scopus and Web of Science. Together with the Annual Assembly and Conference of IAMU, the Student Program of IAMU took place.

During the Assembly, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy received and commissioned a new $300 million training vessel National Security Multi-Mission Vessel – NSMV Patriot State.

The expenses for the participation of representatives of NUOMA and other delegates of higher education institutions from Ukraine in the assembly and conference events were paid by IAMU and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.