From 5 to 7 October 2026, the IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for the Sea (MetroSea 2026) took place in Šibenik, Croatia, with the Centre of Excellence MARBLE playing a prominent role in its organization and scientific programme.
Assistant Professor Fausto Ferreira served as General Chair alongside Pasquale Daponte from the University of Sannio, Italy. Several MARBLE team members and researchers from the University of Zagreb contributed to the organizing committee, including Shyam Madhusudhana as Technical Program Chair, Nadir Kapetanović and Igor Kvasić as Demos and Tutorials Chairs, Barbara Arbanas Ferreira as Publication Chair, Nikola Mišković and Đula Nađ as Special Session Chairs, Ivan Lončar as Publicity Chair, and Filip Bogdanović as Award Chair.
The conference brought together more than 150 participants from 19 countries, featuring over 120 scientific papers across 13 thematic sessions. The programme covered a wide range of topics, including maritime robotics, artificial intelligence for marine ecosystem monitoring, underwater acoustics, coastal and environmental monitoring, marine biodiversity conservation, remote sensing, sensor fusion, smart marine infrastructures, and emerging technologies for ocean observation.
MARBLE researchers made a significant scientific contribution, co-authoring eight conference papers. Two of these received prestigious recognition in the Best Paper Presented by a Young Researcher competition, securing second and third place. Both award-winning papers were presented by former MARBLE interns, Nina Bosak and Thi Tran, highlighting the Centre’s commitment to supporting young researchers and fostering international scientific collaboration.
The conference concluded on 7 October with a special visit to MARBLE’s pilot sites in Šibenik, providing participants with an opportunity to experience the Centre’s research infrastructure and technological developments firsthand. During the visit, participants explored the MARBLE Sea Lab at Martinska and the Smart Mussel Farm, gaining insights into the practical applications of maritime robotics, autonomous systems, and innovative technologies for marine environmental monitoring and sustainable aquaculture.
IEEE MetroSea 2026 was a successful gathering of the international marine research community, further strengthening Šibenik’s position as a hub for maritime innovation and reinforcing MARBLE’s growing role in advancing marine robotics, measurement technologies, and sustainable ocean solutions.
