Artificial Intelligence in Practice:
Lessons from Dr. Arthur Kordon for the GREENPORT Alliance
On the 1st of October, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy hosted a lecture event by Prof. Dr. Arthur Kordon, a Bulgarian-born expert internationally recognised for his contributions to Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As the GREENPORT Alliance prepares to launch the piloting phase of its three educational streams , the project enters a decisive moment in translating European policy priorities into practice. The project’s mission is to enable a sustainable transition of the port sector through innovation, digitalisation, and behavioural change. Within this context, a meeting has been held with Prof. Dr. Arthur Kordon. His works provide a model of how advanced technologies can deliver measurable impact when aligned with clear business and sustainability objectives.
Dr. Kordon stands out among the pioneers who transformed artificial intelligence from an academic curiosity into a practical management instrument. His long career in industrial innovation demonstrates that AI is most effective when it becomes an enabler of operational intelligence — helping organisations make informed, data-driven decisions in real time. His methodology integrates scientific rigour with business logic, offering a roadmap for companies seeking to create value through intelligent systems.
In works such as Applying Computational Intelligence: How to Create Value (Springer, 2009) and Applying Data Science: How to Create Value with Artificial Intelligence (Springer Nature, 2020), Kordon presents a holistic approach that resonates deeply with the GREENPORT vision: using data, digital tools, and adaptive learning to improve performance while advancing sustainability. His philosophy could be summarised as “intelligence applied to real problems” — a core principle that underpins GREENPORT’s educational model.
A central element in Dr. Kordon’s applied work is the concept of Digital Twins — dynamic digital representations of physical assets, systems, or processes. By combining data from sensors, historical records, and predictive algorithms, digital twins allow continuous monitoring, forecasting, and optimisation.
Within the port ecosystem, this translates directly into the ability to:
- anticipate equipment failures through predictive maintenance;
- optimise tugboat or terminal energy use through intelligent energy analytics;
- simulate logistics operations for emission reduction and throughput efficiency;
- and evaluate cost-saving and decarbonisation scenarios without interrupting real operations.
The GREENPORT strategy strongly embraces this vision. Under Work Package 4, the HEI, VET, and TTT curricula integrate simulation-based learning, data-driven case studies, and digital twin modelling as educational tools. Dr. Kordon’s principles provide the theoretical and methodological foundation to frame these learning experiences in a way that connects directly to the operational realities of port services.
Another essential aspect of Kordon’s philosophy is his understanding that technology alone cannot drive transformation — people do. His books and lectures consistently emphasise the role of human interpretation, trust, and accountability in AI-based systems. For GREENPORT, this notion of human-centred digitalisation is pivotal. The three educational streams are not only meant to teach new tools but to reshape professional behaviour and mindset. Whether it is a university student analysing emissions through a data-science module, a tug master using predictive dashboards to plan manoeuvres, or a trainer facilitating change in port organisations, the project promotes an AI-literate workforce that combines digital competence with ethical responsibility.
The European Green Deal and the Digital Europe Programme both call for synergies between sustainability and digitalisation. The GREENPORT project responds directly to this call by linking decarbonisation, digital transformation, and workforce upskilling. Dr. Kordon’s interdisciplinary framework exemplifies this balance. His experience shows that successful AI deployment requires a clear understanding of the system’s energy and resource dynamics — precisely the challenge the maritime and port sectors face today. Through AI-enabled insights, ports can reduce emissions, optimise vessel movements, forecast demand, and manage assets in line with the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime frameworks. Integrating such expertise into GREENPORT’s curricula ensures that learners grasp not only how AI works but why it matters for climate action, circular economy, and competitive advantage.
The forthcoming piloting of the GREENPORT educational modules represents more than a testing phase — it is the first real step toward building a European network of intelligent and sustainable ports. By embedding Kordon-inspired AI principles into the training ecosystem, the project will demonstrate how learning can accelerate decarbonisation and digital readiness simultaneously. The synergy between human expertise, technological intelligence, and environmental responsibility forms the backbone of the GREENPORT strategy. As Dr. Kordon himself argues, “AI creates value only when intelligence meets purpose.” The same applies to GREENPORT: each educational activity, simulation, or module is designed not for technology’s sake, but for the purpose of achieving measurable impact — lower emissions, greater efficiency, and empowered people.
By linking the legacy of Dr. Arthur Kordon’s applied AI methodologies to the mission of GREENPORT, the project demonstrates that Europe’s green and digital transitions are not separate agendas but two facets of the same transformation. The upcoming piloting phase will provide an opportunity to validate this approach across education levels and national contexts, ensuring that future port professionals — from students to trainers — can operate confidently in a data-driven, low-carbon economy.
Through its multidisciplinary design, the GREENPORT project proves that when intelligence meets purpose, sustainability becomes not only a policy goal but a practical, teachable, and achievable reality.
The time has come for the GREENPORT project to translate its research into real-world change!
Based on these recommendations, three tailored learning streams are being launched:
Higher Education (HE) – A 4-ECTS academic course for maritime students, combining theory, simulator tasks, and digital tools to build skills in eco-navigation, fuel efficiency, and emissions tracking.
Vocational Education & Training (VET) – A practical 12-hour course for tug, pilot boat, and port service personnel, focused on energy-saving operations, emissions monitoring, and digital coordination.
Train-the-Trainer (TTT) – A 20-hour professional development program for maritime educators, equipping them to deliver sustainability-focused instruction using simulators, behavior modeling, and case-based teaching.
The Methodology Report will emphasize learning-by-doing, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge transfer through real port case studies. The use of simulators and performance feedback tools is central to fostering behavioral change—empowering participants to implement emission-reducing actions in their daily work.
Together, we are preparing the next generation of maritime professionals to operate more cleanly, efficiently, and collaboratively in the evolving green port ecosystem.
#GREENPORT #MaritimeEducation #Sustainability #GreenPorts #IMO #Decarbonisation #FitFor55 #MaritimeInnovation #SimulatorTraining #PortOperations
Project Kick off and Stakeholders Conference
As the coordinator for the GREENPORT Alliances project, Piri Reis University hosted the nine project partners from seven countries on February 28-29 2024. The kick off meeting which was held on the first day of the two days, covered the whole consortium meeting and discussed the work plan and the way forward for the duration of the project.
The Stakeholders Conference marked the project’s first milestone, and witnessed engagement from key stakeholders spanning the maritime industry and educational institutions alike. During the conference, each project partner presented their roles and responsibilities within the project, and the commitments that would be undertaken over the course of the 36 months of the project. . Representatives from the Turkish maritime sector such as Sanmar Shipyards, the Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GISBIR), Yanmar Holding, Sakura Marine, Kilyos Shipping, Kamer Marine, GDS Engineering, CSS Turkey, NAVTEK, Gübretaş Port, GISAŞ Port, and the Turkish Pilots Association actively participated in the conference. Insights into innovative strategies for reducing carbon emissions within the sector were shared through presentations delivered by representatives from Turkon Line and GISAŞ.
Project Update: Diving Deeper into Sustainable Shipping
Activities outlined in “Task 3.2 – Scientific Analysis” commenced in November 2024 (M10). These activities will span a total period of six months, concluding in April 2025. This task plays a pivotal role within the project as it focuses on developing alternative analyses and identifying case studies to demonstrate how the application of different operational methodologies can significantly impact harmful gas emissions. The planned activities are divided into three main phases, each characterized by specific objectives and a targeted operational approach.
The first phase, referred to as desk analysis, will take place between November 2024 and January 2025. This phase will involve the preliminary collection of relevant data and the structuring of case studies. Based on the review of available documents and sources, it represents the starting point for developing alternative operational scenarios. Subsequently, during the second phase, from February to mid-March 2025, the development of case studies will proceed. This activity will incorporate innovative analytical approaches, including targeted interviews with industry experts, to delve deeper into the identified methodologies. Finally, the third phase, from mid-March to April 2025,
will focus on integrating lessons learned. The goal will be to translate the outcomes from the previous phases into practical and concrete recommendations for designing specific training curricula.
The activities of Task 3.2 build upon the results of “Task 3.1 Cross-sectoral identification of best practices”, which identified 13 practices classified into three main clusters. Cluster 1, focused on emission reduction, addresses strategic aspects related to environmental sustainability. Cluster 2 emphasizes operational efficiency improvements, prioritizing technical and managerial aspects. Cluster 3 centers on engagement and professional development, highlighting educational and training dimensions.
These practices were selected through an in-depth analysis of scientific articles, institutional documents, and questionnaires, involving partners and industry operators such as pilots and tugboats. Specifically, the questionnaire survey generated 35 useful responses, which led to the addition of 4 new practices to the initial list, while retaining the original cluster classification.
An additional phase of work resulted in the ranking of 12 Best Practices, evaluated using 10 distinct parameters divided across five perspectives: environmental, economic, social, technical, and institutional. This multidimensional evaluation provided a solid foundation for designing training curricula, which will be further enriched by the outcomes of Task 3.2.
Task 3.2 represents a crucial milestone in the overall project trajectory, as it lays the groundwork for the subsequent Task 3.3, which will culminate in the preparation of an internal document containing targeted recommendations for training development. The integrated approach adopted in Work Package 3 stands out for its ability to ensure a systemic and multidimensional vision, actively involving experts and stakeholders. This method optimizes project outcomes and promotes an operational model oriented toward the sustainability of port operations.
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