Singapore, 31st January 2024 – Centre for Maritime Studies (CMS) at National University of Singapore (NUS) and RightShip proudly announce the successful conclusion of the NUS-RightShip Hackathon 2024, an impactful and engaging experiential learning event aimed at exposing students in junior colleges and institutes of higher learning to the maritime industry while attempting to address the pressing challenge of reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the port of Singapore. Endorsed by Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore and sponsored by Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), this event brought together bright minds from across Singapore’s academic landscape to innovate and collaborate towards a sustainable maritime future.

The Hackathon, held from 20^th to 29^th January 2024, featured a series of engaging activities designed to foster creative problem-solving and collaboration. It kicked off with a full-day training session at NUS on 20^th January at UTown Auditorium 2, followed by the release of the problem statement on 26^th January 2024 at 5:00 PM (SGT). Participants had until 3:00 PM (SGT) on 27^th January 2024 to submit their solutions, which were then evaluated by the judges based firstly on the accuracy of the carbon dioxide estimation and then on the convincing of the proposed solutions through oral presentations at UTown Auditorium 2 on the same day.

The esteemed panel of judges, consisting of industry leaders and academic experts from NUS, meticulously selected the top six team finalists whose solutions showcased outstanding innovation, feasibility, and impact. These finalists were subsequently honoured with the respective prizes, determined by the merit of their proposed solutions presented during the Oral Presentation at the Prize Award Ceremony, held at the Innovation and Design Hub in the College of Design and Engineering at NUS on 29^th January 2024.

Oral Presentation (Panel of Judges’) – 27 January 2024

Among the distinguished guests present at the ceremony were Mr. Ong Kim Pong, Chairman of CMS Board and Group CEO (Designate) of PSA International; Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman of SMF; Mr. Steen Lund, CEO of RightShip; and Mr. Tay Yeow Min, Deputy Director of International Maritime Centre Division, MPA.

The hackathon featured two categories: Category A (University Level) and Category B (Junior College & Polytechnic Level), with participation from students across the six autonomous universities, junior colleges, and polytechnics in Singapore. More than 500 students registered for the hackathon to showcase their ingenuity and dedication to addressing one of the most critical challenges facing the maritime industry today.

In his speech, Mr. Ong encouraged our finalists with the following words: “By virtue of your presence here, from thoughts to ideas, ideas to words, words to actions, and actions that lead to behaviour that will go forward into the journey, and with that alone, everyone is a winner.”

Mr. Ong Kim Pong – Chairman of the Centre for Maritime Studies Board

Mr. Steen Lund, CEO of RightShip, commented: “The NUS-RightShip Hackathon 2024 exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in driving sustainable change within the maritime sector. It has been inspiring to witness the passion and creativity of the participating students, and I am confident that their solutions will contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at Ports of Singapore.”

Mr. Steen Lund – Chief Executive Officer of RightShip

The success of the NUS-RightShip Hackathon 2024 underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and youth engagement in shaping a more sustainable maritime future. Through initiatives like this, stakeholders across the industry can work together to address complex challenges and drive positive change.

Junior College & Polytechnic Level Winners –

Team ChadGPT from Raffles Institution (Junior College)

University Level Winners –

Team Crash Course from Singapore Management University

Official Photos to download: https://mynbox.nus.edu.sg/u/9kMF8pZDBc7kQwXF/e2357e8b-ff2f-481c-96b7-012b2e468609?l 

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(Link is valid until 31st March 2024)