From Swabia to the Baltic: Student Engineers dive into Marine Technology at north.io

Kiel, Germany. This week, north.io had the pleasure of welcoming a group of eleven highly motivated students from Esslingen University of Applied Sciences to our headquarters in Kiel. Accompanied by their professor, Dr. rer. pol. Oliver M. Dürr, the students are part of an interdisciplinary team developing an underwater vehicle for the prestigious MATE ROV Competition, scheduled to take place from June 19 to 21, 2025, at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan (USA).​

During their visit, CEO Jann Wendt introduced the students to north.io's TrueOcean platform, showcasing how digital solutions are revolutionising marine data management.

Jann Wendt presenting the TrueOcean platform to visiting students

The exchange was particularly enriching, given the students' hands-on experience in designing and constructing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of performing complex underwater tasks, such as object detection and measurement.​

"It was a great pleasure to engage with such enthusiastic and skilled students," said Jann Wendt. "Their project exemplifies how marine technology 'Made in Esslingen' can compete on a global stage, much like our initiatives here in Kiel."​

The students' three-day tour of Schleswig-Holstein also included visits to their sponsor unit, the 1st Submarine Squadron in Eckernförde. They explored the minehunter Fulda, the Submarine Training Center, and in addition to that the Bundeswehr Technical Center for Ships and Naval Weapons (WTD 71), gaining invaluable insights into naval operations and underwater technology.​

This collaboration underscores the importance of bridging academic research with real-world applications in marine technology. north.io is proud to support the next generation of engineers and looks forward to following their journey at the MATE ROV Competition.​

For more information about the MATE ROV Competition, visit materovcompetition.org.

Press Contact:

Dr. Adrian Neumann  / presse@north.io  / +49 431 363054-10