From 9–16 November 2025, Limassol became a hub for cutting-edge maritime robotics as the 17th edition of Breaking the Surface (BtS)  took place at St. Raphael Resort & Marina. For the first time in its history, BtS left the Adriatic and travelled to Cyprus, gathering around 200 international participants for a week of lectures, tutorials, hands-on demos, and vibrant networking.

Sponsorship

Since 2009, BtS has grown into a leading international interdisciplinary field workshop on maritime robotics and applications, bringing together experts from maritime robotics, marine biology, maritime archaeology, maritime security, and marine geology, as well as industry representatives, policy makers, and students.

Throughout the week in Limassol, participants explored the latest advances in:

• autonomous and remotely operated underwater systems

• sensing and monitoring for the marine environment

• digital tools for the sustainable Blue Economy

• real-world case studies linking research, industry, and public authorities

Live demonstrations in and around the marina, interactive tutorials, and informal evening gatherings helped to maintain the unique BtS “field workshop” spirit—combining serious science and technology with a friendly, collaborative atmosphere.

Organisers

BtS 2025 was organised by:

• University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (UNIZG-FER)

• Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies (LABUST)

• Centre for Underwater Systems and Technologies (CUST)

• Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI)

• Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy (CoE MARBLE)

Supporters

We warmly thank our supporters and financing projects for making BtS 2025 possible:

Sponsorship

• SeaTecHub (Horizon Europe)

• ERA Chair in Internet of Underwater Things at LABUST (UWIN-LABUST) (Horizon Europe)

• CoE MARBLE (Horizon Europe – Teaming)

• uBlueTec (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund – EMFAF)

• IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (IEEE OES)

A heartfelt thank you to all speakers, participants, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed to this edition and helped shape BtS 2025 into a truly memorable workshop.