CMA CGM, Rio Tinto, Swire Shipping and Swire Bulk are joining the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) in a contest designed to get university students involved in the intersection of shipping and sustainability.
These leading players in the maritime space will act as sponsor companies for finalist teams taking part in the SMF-organised MaritimeONE Case Summit 2023.
Students from all of Singapore’s public and private universities and polytechnics will be tasked with coming up with solutions to the challenge statements from the sponsor companies.
CMA CGM is challenging the participants to propose innovative approaches, business cases or solutions that will tap on its $1.5bn Fund for Energies to accelerate decarbonisation of shipping and logistics.
Laurent Olmeta, chief executive officer, CMA CGM Asia Pacific, said the Fund for Energies will accelerate the global energy transition supporting innovations to decarbonise shipping and logistics. The French liner giant has a stated goal of becoming a Net Zero company by 2050.
“I am looking forward to seeing innovative solutions to be identified through the MaritimeONE Case Summit,” Laurent said
Rio Tinto is asking students to propose a framework or solution that demonstrates innovative ways to foster human sustainability, at sea and/or on shore, to support responsible shipping and attract the next generation of talent to the maritime industry.
Laure Baratgin, Rio Tinto’s head of commercial operations, described the MaritimeONE Case Summit, as an excellent opportunity to expose students to the exciting and challenging opportunities the maritime industry faces today.
“Human sustainability —from safety and crew welfare, to diversity, equity and inclusivity — is critical to provide responsible shipping of our products and to attract the next generation of talent to the industry. We look forward to the curiosity and fresh ideas the students will bring to our Summit challenge, and potentially implement their perspectives to strengthen human sustainability in our business and the broader maritime industry,” she said.
Swire Shipping and Swire Bulk’s challenge is for participants to create a framework or model to reduce the ship's non-sailing fuel use by at least 10% while at anchor, adrift, or in port, and to suggest methods to minimise fuel use by improving operational performance.
Susana Germino, Swire Shipping and Swire Bulk’s general manager for sustainability and decarbonisation, Swire Shipping & Swire Bulk highlighted that shipping has a vital role to play in the global challenge that is climate change.
“Energy efficiency and optimisation are key to our decarbonisation strategy, both short and long term, and we will continuously strive to seek new and innovative ways to minimize the impact of our businesses on the environment…we look forward to collaborating and inspiring the next generation of exciting young talents on initiatives that will make a difference to maritime decarbonisation,” Germino said.
Upon registering, each team is required to rank their preference for their chosen challenge statement, as well as submit a brief write-up on why they want to work on their most preferred challenge statement.
Teams will be allocated one of the three challenge statements to work on. Priority for the preferred challenge statement will be based on the most well-considered responses.
The competing teams will submit a proof-of-concept with video presentation on how they intend to tackle their challenge statement, with submissions due on 14 February.
After a shortlisting process has been completed, finalist teams will pitch their proposals to the judges in a live presentation at the end of March.
The sponsor companies will mentor the finalist teams through to the grand finale on 5 April 2023.
Established in 2004, the SMF acts as a conduit between the public and private sectors to accomplish the twin mission of developing and promoting Singapore as an international maritime centre, and to attract, engage and grow a talent pipeline to position Singapore maritime sector for continued growth.
Heading the SMF as chairman is Pacific Carriers managing director and chief executive officer Hor Weng Yew, while former Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore assistant chief executive officer Tan Beng Tee has been its executive director since January 2021.
“The maritime industry is responding to the call to be more sustainable across the value chain. Through the MaritimeONE Case Summit, students will be given the opportunity to participate in addressing sustainability challenges that often do not have textbook solutions,” said Hor.
