NavaLab-TH — Maritime Specialists Community
THEN

Member

Naruphun Chotechuang

Associate Member

Born in Chon Buri, Thailand, Naruphun earned a Bachelor's degree in Coast Guard Operations and Law Enforcement from the Japan Coast Guard Academy, before working as a navigation officer, Japanese interpreter and translator, and lecturer. In 2019, he had the opportunity to pursue a Master's degree and conduct research on the digitalization of maritime education at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, which made him realize that without starting to build human capital right away, Thailand risked falling behind the rapidly changing era of maritime technology. Around the same time, Japan launched the MEGURI2040 project, aiming to develop domestically operated autonomous ships, and began offering scholarships in Marine AI — prompting Naruphun to start seeking out young Thais interested in pursuing this field of study in Japan. Since 2021, more than ten people have gone on to study Marine AI and related fields in succession, and began exchanging what they had learned to find their own path toward developing maritime technology — which became the starting point of NavaLab-TH. He is now pursuing a PhD at the same institution, with research spanning two main threads: sustainable coastal urban development around major ports, conducted with an international research network, and ship collision prevention and navigator training aboard training vessels. His work has been published across several international journals and conferences.

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Naruphun Chotechuang

Expertise

  • Sustainable Coastal Development
  • Ship Collision Prevention
  • Navigator Training

Experience

  • Navigation Officer

    Japan Coast Guard

  • Japanese Interpreter and Translator

  • Lecturer

Current research

  • Coastal Urban Development and Port Sustainability

    Studies urban growth around major ports, coastal pollution, and approaches to sustainable port performance, in collaboration with an international research network.

  • Ship Collision Prevention and Navigator Training

    Studies measures to prevent ship collisions in ports, training drawn from near-miss incidents, and the role of training vessels in disaster relief and experiential learning for maritime students.

Publications

Education

  • PhD (In Progress), Marine Science

    Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

  • Master of Marine Science, Marine Science

    Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

  • Bachelor of Science, Coast Guard Operations and Law Enforcement

    Japan Coast Guard Academy

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