At 0900 hrs in 11 April 2017 г. the Fifth Session of the Executive Board of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) was opened in Swiss Belhotel Dimyat Varna. The participants were welcomed by the Governor of the Province of Varna, Mr Todor Yotov. After his speech the floor was taken by Ms Liliya Hristova, Director for Education, Youth Activities and Sports at Varna Municipality. She thanked Prof. Mednikarov for the good cooperation between Varna Municipality and Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and reminded that the student conference scheduled for October was on the General Assembly agenda.

After that, Prof. Takeshi Nakazawa, the Executive Director of IAMU, delivered an address, welcoming all the participants and announcing the agenda of the Board. Its work would go on for the entire day.

On 12 April 2017 the participants are going on a technical tour to the town of Balchik.