The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) has launched the 7th edition of the annual MaritimeONE Case Summit.
In partnership with major industry sponsors AET, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Petredec Global, and Pacific International Lines (PIL), this year’s summit invites tertiary students to pioneer solutions for the global maritime sector’s most pressing vulnerabilities.
The competition provides students from Singapore’s universities and polytechnics a unique platform to apply academic knowledge to real-world scenarios. Participants will sharpen their teamwork and cross-disciplinary skills while building invaluable professional networks within the maritime ecosystem.
The 2026 challenge statements focus heavily on the macro trends reshaping global shipping today:
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Optimizing maritime logistics and operational efficiency.
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Building robust frameworks to measure and reduce carbon emissions.
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Strengthening energy supply chains amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Students are invited to form teams of two to four members and select one of the four corporate challenge statements.
| Phase |
Milestone |
| Phase 1 |
Registration and Proof of Concept (POC) Submission |
| Phase 2 |
Industry Mentorship for Shortlisted Finalist Teams |
| Phase 3 |
Closed-Door Judging |
| Phase 4 |
Award Ceremony (October 23, 2026) |
“The four challenge statements this year reflect key issues that the maritime industry is navigating today. These span environment, social and governance (ESG), energy security, and technology to augment decision-making. I thank AET, MSC, Petredec Global and PIL for putting forward challenges that give students hands-on opportunities to address practical industry issues with rigour and imagination. Such exposures will equip the students better when they join the maritime industry,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.
“At AET, we believe the future of maritime lies in the people we invest in today. Supporting the MaritimeONE Case Summit 2026 is a natural extension of our partnership with SMF, enabling students to tackle real-world industry challenges… AET is proud to be a committed partner in nurturing the next generation and strengthening a resilient, future-ready maritime industry,” Mr. Nick Potter, President & CEO, AET.
“At MSC, we believe that the decisions we make today — about people and about the planet — will shape the world our children inherit. We are looking for bold, evidence-driven thinkers who are not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and propose solutions that are both visionary and grounded in reality. If you are passionate about or committed to driving measurable climate action, this challenge is your platform,” Ms. Grace Chia, Managing Director, MSC Asia Regional Office.
“Approximately 1 gigaton of CO₂e is emitted annually from the use of wood fuels for cooking. LPG continues to stand out as a lower-carbon, low-polluting energy source… However, ongoing challenges affecting trade routes, S&D balances, and the economics of seagoing trade have changed many things significantly. How will this affect the industry’s ability to continue scaling this crucial transition source of clean energy? This is what we look forward to working on with these talented individuals,” said Mr. Jonathan Fancher, Chief Commercial Officer, Petredec Global.
“At PIL, we see increasing complexity in areas such as fuel optimisation and operational planning, where more structured and data-driven approaches are becoming essential to improve efficiency and decision-making. Through this challenge, we hope to give participants meaningful exposure to these considerations while encouraging them to think practically about solutions,” said Mr. Lionel Patrice Chatelet, Chief Commercial Officer, Pacific International Lines.
