From 14 to 18 October 2025, the 25 Annual General Assembly (AGA 25) and Scientific Conference of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) was held at the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET) University, Chennai, India. The theme of the Conference was “Disruptive Technologies and Innovations towards Sustainable Maritime Practices”. The event brought together over 144 delegates from 32 countries around the world.

The IAMU Annual General Assembly is a forum for exchanging information, approving common policy, and developing and strengthening good relations and cooperation between IAMU member universities. The National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” (NUOMA) at these events was represented by the Acting Rector of NUOMA Professor Vadym Zakharchenko, and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Ship Handling, Dmytro Zhukov.

The opening ceremony of the AGA 25 was addressed by: Indian maritime industry leaders, AMET leadership, Nippon Foundation Chairman Takeju Ogata, IAMU Chairman – President of Dalian Maritime University Dr. Shan Hongjun and IAMU Executive Director Professor Takeshi Nakazawa.

The next item on the agenda was the Presidents’ Forum. The President’s Forum is a meeting where the presidents/rectors of IAMU member universities discuss issues, especially regarding the policy, direction and activities of IAMU, taking into account academic relations between member universities, as well as economic and technological developments in the international maritime community. This year main attention of the Presidents’ Forum was paid to the use of artificial intelligence in maritime sectir and maritime education.

The plenary sessions of the AGA 25 considered the approval of the reports of the IAMU International Executive Board and IAMU Subcommittees, determined the winners of the research project competition, and awarded IAMU experts.

The venue for the next IAMU Annual General Assemblies was approved. The 2026 Annual General Assembly will be held at the Maritime University of Split, Croatia. The 2027 Annual General Assembly will be held at the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Philippines.

At the IAMU Conference, scientists and lecturers from IAMU member universities had the opportunity to present the results of their academic/scientific research to the Association community. The IAMU Conference was organized by the local executive committee and the IAMU International Program Committee. During the IAMU Conference, more than 50 presentations and speeches were deliverd in various formats. NUOMA was represented by the presentations: “Dependence of the thrust and power of wind propulsors on the speed of the vessel” by Mykhaylo Miyusov, Oleksandr Kryviy, Dmytro Zhukov and “Traditional methods to determine the ships’ position and Navigation Safety” by Igor Vorokhobin, Igor Burmaka, Volodymir Sikirin, Dmytro Zhukov.

In the framework of the AGA 25 a Memorandum of understanding and cooperation between AMET University and NUOMA was signed. From the side of NUOMA te memorandum was signed by Acting Rector, Professor Vadym Zakharchenko.

The IAMU Student Program was held in conjunction with the AGA 25 and Conference of IAMU. On the last day, a technical tour to AMET University took place.