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ESA Space for Maritime Security workshop Programme

 

7 September 2026

Arrival of participants and registration (badges distribution)

14:30 – 15:30 Welcome addresses & Introductory words

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 Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency
• Welcome address by Major Helder Lima, Space Operations Center, Portuguese Air Force
• Keynote message (video) by Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
• Keynote address byMaja Markovčić Kostelac, Executive Director, EMSA
• Keynote address by Flavio Sbardellati, Market Downstream and Innovation manager & Head of Governmental and R&I Team, EUSPA
• Introductory words 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
• Breda Bunič, Senior Analyst, European Centre of Excellence for countering Hybrid threats 
• Olivier Surly, Senior Director Europe, Business Development, Geoinformation, MDA
• Wojciech Zdanowicz, Director, Maritime Office in Szczecin

Presentation by Laurent Jaffart (video),  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:

• Jarkko Antila, CEO, Kuva Space 
  
• Jérôme Tronc, 4S End-to-End System Architect, Directorate of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity, ESA
• Olivier Piepsz, CEO/President, Prométhée Earth Intelligence
• TBC

Questions from the audience

• Keynote address by Commodore Rui Leite da Cunha, Coordinator of the Atlantic Center
• Keynote address by TBC

8 September 2026

• Welcome back by Pascal Legai, Senior Security Adviser to ESA DG, DG-OS, ESA
• Keynote address by Xavier Ducept, Secretary-General for Maritime Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, France
• Keynote address by Miguel dos Reis Arenga, Director, NATO Maritime Geometoc Centre of Excellence

Presentation on on “Use of Space Technology for Effective Surveillance of Vast Maritime Zones” by Shanaka Jayasekara, Head of Office, UNODC Malta

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
• Disma Malgarini, Director of the Operations Management Division (OMD), Frontex
• Diogo Silva, Analyst, Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) – MAOC (N), Joint Operations Coordination Centre (JOCC)
• Prof. George Theocharidis, Professor of Maritime Law & Policy at World Maritime University

Presentation by Darek Saunders, Head of Research and Innovation Unit, Frontex, Space-Powered Innovation in maritime border management

Presentation by Dr. Luca Vincenzo Maria Salamone, Director General, Italian Space Agency

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
• Nader Alagha, Senior Communications Systems Engineer, Arctic Ocean Surveillance (AOS) Projects Manager, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, ESA-ESTEC
• Unseenlabs

Questions from the audience

• Presentation by SASEMAR
• Presentation by Nil Angli, Business Application and Partnerships Officer, ESA CIC
• Conclusive remarks by Pascal Legai, Senior Security Adviser to ESA DG, DG-OS, ESA