Maritime Hackathon 2026:
Turning Data into Decisions for a Safer and More Efficient Maritime Future
The Maritime Hackathon 2026, organised by Centre for Maritime Studies (CMS) at NUS, Singapore Maritime Foundation and RightShip, concluded successfully with students showcasing innovative, data-driven solutions to real-world maritime challenges.
Now in its third edition, the hackathon brought together students from universities, polytechnics, junior colleges, and secondary schools, reflecting CMS’s continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of maritime talent. Participants worked across disciplines to tackle complex problem statements focused on operational cost efficiency, safety, and data-informed decision-making in the maritime sector.
From Industry Exposure to Real-World Problem Solving
The hackathon journey began with an Industry Showcase, Briefing Session, and Hackathon Masterclass, where participants gained valuable exposure to the maritime industry and insights into real operational decision-making. Industry partners shared perspectives on safety, cost optimisation, and the growing role of data and analytics in shaping modern maritime operations.
Armed with these insights, teams embarked on an intensive hackathon sprint, applying analytical thinking, creativity, and technical skills to develop practical solutions grounded in real-world constraints. The diversity of ideas demonstrated the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing industry challenges.
Innovation Grounded in Practice
Throughout the hackathon, teams demonstrated a strong understanding that maritime challenges are rarely abstract. Instead, they involve balancing trade-offs between safety, cost, and performance, often under time pressure and with imperfect data. The solutions presented reflected thoughtful consideration of these realities, highlighting the importance of human judgment supported by data and technology.
The Oral Presentation and Prize Award Ceremony provided a platform for finalist teams to present their solutions to a panel of judges from industry and academia. The judges commended the teams for their clarity of thought, analytical rigour, and practical relevance.
Winning Teams – Maritime Hackathon 2026
Category A (Up to University Level)
🥇 1st Place: Kopibara
🥈 2nd Place: REPmonkeys
🥉 3rd Place: Floatware
Category B (Up to Pre-University Level)
🥇 1st Place: Kittens
🥈 2nd Place: Joseph’s Followers
🥉 3rd Place: Grannies
In addition, teams who scored within the top 10% overall were recognised with a Certificate of Achievement, acknowledging their strong performance across evaluation criteria.
Collaboration at the Heart of Maritime Innovation
The success of Maritime Hackathon 2026 was made possible through strong collaboration between our organising committee over at Centre for Maritime Studies, Singapore Maritime Foundation and RightShip, as well as our industry partners, judges, mentors, and event supporters. Their involvement reinforced the importance of bridging academia and industry to cultivate talent and drive innovation within Singapore’s maritime ecosystem.
Most importantly, the hackathon reaffirmed CMS’s mission to expose students to the maritime industry and inspire them to consider how their skills — whether in data analytics, engineering, finance, or design — can contribute to a safer, more efficient, and resilient maritime future.
As Maritime Hackathon 2026 concludes, CMS looks forward to seeing how the ideas generated during the event continue to grow, and to welcoming participants back in future editions of the hackathon and other maritime initiatives.