Maritime Digital Challenge calls for digital solutions to real-world industry challenges

By applying their knowledge to real-life business challenges, students could win attractive cash prizes, gain industry credentials, have the opportunity to be mentored by seasoned professionals, and stand a chance to secure internships with participating companies.

RightShip joins leading multinationals A.P. Møller Maersk and PSA Cargo Solutions in setting three challenges that are all different, and all equally inspiring.

A.P. Møller Maersk, a leading integrated container logistics company that operates in 130 countries, has asked students to ‘Create an application that will allow users to have end-to-end visibility of warehouse operations and optimise the allocation of resources.’

A unit of PSA International, PSA Cargo Solutions is part of a leading global port group with more than 60 deep-sea, rail and inland terminals, as well as affiliated businesses in ‘distriparks’, warehouses and marine services. Their challenge asks entrants to ‘develop a multi-modal shipment route optimisation engine that allows users to identify the optimum shipment route.’

Finally, our challenge set enterprising students the task of ‘designing an engaging solution to facilitate the forging of meaningful relationships and networks between employees in today’s hybrid work environment.’

Students are invited to form teams of four, with registrations open until 29 August 2022. Challenge statements and proof of concepts should be submitted by 18 September 2022, with evaluations of the submissions, and shortlisting of teams to be mentored, being made before the grand finals on 12 November 2022. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of $3,500 (SD) while first and second runners-up will win $3,000 and $2,500 respectively.

Tan Beng Tee, Executive Director, Singapore Maritime Foundation, said: “The curation of the sponsor companies for this year’s digital challenge reflects the positioning of maritime at the nexus of the global supply chain and an industry that is on the cusp of transformation. This case competition is an excellent opportunity for students to apply their skills to address real-world challenges while gaining valuable experience at the same time.”

Purnima Singh, Chief Human Resources Officer for RightShip, said: “Covid-19 has changed the expectations most employees have regarding when, how and where they work. In some ways, the flexibility of remote or hybrid working has helped foster increased work life balance and wellbeing but has also had the adverse effect of making it much harder for individuals to come together and form deeper, more personal connections with their colleagues.

“By supporting the latest MSC Maritime Digital Challenge, we are looking for fresh perspectives on how we can leverage technology to drive these connections in an engaging, meaningful and sustainable way.”