(NEWS) WMU Professor Appointed UArctic Chair in Search and Rescue (SAR)

February

2025

WMU Professor Appointed UArctic Chair in Search and Rescue

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World Maritime University (WMU) Professor, Dr Dimitrios Dalaklis, has been appointed the University of the Arctic (UArctic) Chair in search and rescue (SAR) for a five-year term. In this role, Professor Dalaklis aims to further strengthen international collaboration on Arctic safety and SAR practices. His focus will be on improving operational strategies, advancing research in Arctic maritime safety, and enhancing training for professionals working in this challenging region.

UArctic is a decentralized organization with offices, programmes and other functions hosted at member institutions in the Circumpolar North. UArctic Chairs are highly qualified academics who will serve as academic drivers in a broad area of relevance to the Arctic. They implement and drive collaborative actions in research and education among UArctic members and Thematic Networks, and build partnerships with the broader Arctic community.

Professor Dalaklis teaches in the Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration (MSEA) Specialization at WMU and his expertise centers around safety and security issues at sea. He joined WMU in 2014 after a distinguished 26-year career in the Hellenic Navy, where he accumulated his expertise in maritime safety, security, and education. At WMU, he contributes to the design and delivery of courses on maritime safety systems and security, seafarer training, and energy management. His research and teaching have consistently focused on critical Arctic-related issues, including shipping operations in icy waters, implementation of the Polar Code, and search and rescue (SAR) in Arctic contexts. His extensive publishing record includes numerous peer-reviewed studies and book chapters, with an emphasis on improving safety and security in Arctic maritime operations.

Professor Dalaklis holds advanced degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School in the United States and a PhD from the University of the Aegean, Greece, where he focused on maritime administration and policy formulation. His practical experience as a naval officer and expertise in implementing International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions like SOLAS, MARPOL, and STCW have made him a sought-after expert in oceans governance, environmental protection, and Arctic development.

In addition to his teaching and research, Professor Dalaklis has led numerous capacity development initiatives, including training programmes that emphasize the effective implementation of international maritime regulations. His leadership in Arctic research has also extended to coordinating and participating in international projects that address the unique challenges of search and rescue in the Arctic, where harsh conditions and vast distances pose significant risks.

About UArctic

In 1998 the Arctic Council called for the establishment of the University of the Arctic, and soon afterwards, UArctic was officially launched in Rovaniemi, Finland in 2001. The UArctic International Secretariat has been hosted by the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland since the launch of UArctic. As a decentralized organization, UArctic's financial and legal affairs are largely handled through host institutions.

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