COFO was officially made operational on May, 27th 2024. The symbolic cutting of the ribbon was carried out by (as seen below) the Deputy Governor of the West Pomeranian Region Bartosz Brożyński, MUS Rector Wojciech Ślączka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka and Marshall of the West Pomeranian Region Olgierd Geblewicz.


The opening ceremony was also attended by the members of the university's authorities, MUS staff, and representatives of the maritime industry and institutions. MUS Rector welcomed the guests and presented a short introduction followed by the shot speeches by Arkadiusz Marchewka and Olgierd Geblewicz. Next, the guests moved to the nearby quay where they experienced a presentation of 2 large-scale ship models.

The models will be used in several areas including:

• automation of autonomous vessels - remote control,
• risk analysis for the operation of autonomous vessels,
• construction of mathematical models and algorithms for autonomous control of unmanned vessels,
• development of technology for communication between the onshore service centre and the deck of the unmanned vessel.

New COFO laboratories were also presented to the guests

11 modern laboratories were also open and nominations were handed over to the managers.
COFO researches will deal with a selection of issues including:

• automation and autonomous navigation, 
• navigation and satellite technology,
• new algorithms for satellite signal analysis,
• positioning of moving objects - on the water surface or in the deep sea, 
• development of modern infrastructure, 
• seabed research,
• hydro- and cartographic surveys, 
• safety issues and efficient risk calculation in shipping.

The Centre for Operation of Floating Objects is the largest university investment in the West Pomeranian region in years - a project subsidised by the EU funds - from the Regional Operational Programme for the West Pomeranian Region, with a total of PLN 29,172,579.13. The Centre's modern laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art systems and permanent access to a waterway become an advanced research facility where MUS staff develop and test innovative solutions.