ESA Space for Maritime Security Workshop

All times are in local time.

You can download the detailed agenda here:

ESA Space for Maritime Security – Detailed Programme

 

Or download the programme overview below:

ESA Sapce for Maritime Security – Programme Overview

 

Arrival of participants

18:00 – 18:35 Welcome addresses

• Welcome address by Pascal Legai, Senior Security Adviser to ESA DG, DG-OS, ESA
• Welcome address by Commodore Nicholson Lavrador, Commander of the Azores Maritime Zone, Regional Commander of the Azores Maritime Police, Head of the Azores Maritime Department
• Welcome address by Benoist Bihan, Director, CAPRI
•  Welcome address by André Craveiro, Coordinator of the Azores Mission Structure for Space 

18:35 Start of cocktail

21:00 End of cocktail

 

Satellites play a vital role in advancing maritime security operations by providing comprehensive and reliable surveillance capabilities, helping mitigation of threats and challenges affecting both the Baltic and overseas territories. They enable potential real-time permanent monitoring of vast ocean areas, which is otherwise challenging with conventional methods.

• Welcome address by Rui Martins, Regional Director for Maritime Policies, Azores Government
• Welcome address by Ricardo Conde, President, Portuguese Space Agency
• Keynote address (video) by Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
• Keynote address by Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation, EUSPA
• Keynote address by Brigadier General Francisco Dionísio, Commander of the Azores Air Zone – Representative of the Portuguese Minister of National Defence
• Keynote address by Admiral Nuno de Noronha Bragança, Coordinator of the Atlantic Center
• Introductory words and video by Pascal Legai, Senior Security Adviser to ESA DG, DG-OS, ESA

Presentation by Pedro Lourenco, Head of Unit Surveillance in Department Safety, Security and Surveillance, EMSA

Panel

Moderator: Isabelle Duvaux-Bechon, Consultant on Security / defence projects for ESA Senior Security Coordinator

This panel will review specific challenges faced by the Baltic Sea European neighbouring countries and how the maritime domain awareness is key for the security of the region. Speakers will address how space assets contribute to resilience and informed decision-making against jamming, spoofing, cyber threats, and hybrid risks in an increasingly complex security environment.

Panelists:

• Otto Tabuns, Founding Director and member of the BSF Board, Baltic Security Foundation 
• Louise Souverbie, Researcher and Head of the Europe, EU, NATO Programme on political developments in European countries, IRIS
• Jesper Bank, Chief Commercial Officer,Port of Esbjerg
• Breda Bunič, Senior Analyst, European Centre of Excellence for countering Hybrid threats 
• Olivier Surly, Senior Director Europe, Business Development, Geoinformation, MDA

Presentation (video) by Laurent Jaffart,  Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity, ESA
Presentation by Christophe Gomart, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence

Panel

Moderator: Thibault Taillade,EO Security Applications Engineer, EOP, ESA 

Discussions will address the added value of satellite-based Earth Observation, PNT, Connectivity for vessel detection, and cooperation between civilian and defence actors. The panel will highlight the role of resilient GNSS services, cybersecurity measures, and user perspectives from maritime authorities and commercial operators.

Panelists:

• Jean Luc Trullemans, Head of European Space Security & Education Centre, ESA
• Olivier Piepsz, CEO/President, Prométhée Earth Intelligenc
• Marko Perkovic, Associate Professor, University of Ljubljana
• Tugba Gunes, Chief Commercial Officer, Vake.ai
• Jarkko Antila, CEO, Kuva Space

Questions from the audience

14:30 – 14:40 Presentation by Dr. Luca Vincenzo Maria Salamone, Director General, Italian Space Agency

Panel

Moderator: Bruno Reynaud de Sousa, Professor, University of Minho, Portugal

This panel will present challenges specific to overseas territories with vast maritime zones and limited national physical surveillance capacity and focus on the use of satellite technologies to detect, monitor, and prevent illicit maritime activities, including illegal fishing, trafficking, and sanctions evasion (dark fleet). Speakers will discuss operational use cases combining Earth Observation, AIS data, and analytics tools, VDES, as well as coordination between European agencies and local authorities.

Panelists:

• Sven Tahon, Specialist Officer Surveillance Technologies, EFCA
• Dr. Lars Gerdes, Deputy Executive Director Operations, Frontex
• Diogo Silva, Analyst, Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) – MAOC (N), Joint Operations Coordination Centre (JOCC)
• Rui Martins, Regional Director for Maritime Policies, Azores Government

Presentation by Lóránt Czárán, Chief of the Space Applications Section, UNOOSA

Presentation by Estefania Blanch, Earth Observation Project Manager, IEEC

Panel

Moderator: Jean-Marc Astorg, Senior Director BLC Middle East and former CNES Director of Strategy 

This session will address how space-based services support rapid response to maritime and coastal crises, including natural disasters, extreme weather events, and environmental incidents. Discussions will highlight early warning systems, satellite communications, and real-time situational awareness tools that assist civil protection authorities and emergency responders. The panel will also consider the growing impact of climate change on island and coastal regions and the role of space in strengthening preparedness and resilience.

Panelists:

• Bruno Carvalho, Director, Ilex Space
• Dan Isaac, Director of Sales, Marketing, Applications and Services, OHB LuxSpace
• Laurence Duquerroy, Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) Implementation Manager, ESA
• Manon Alix, Head of Public Affairs, Unseenlabs

 

Presentation by Darek Saunders, Head of Research and Innovation Unit, Frontex

Presentation by Nil Angli, Business Application and Partnerships Officer, ESA CIC

Questions from the audience

This visit will last the morning, allowing participants to catch flights the same day.