THESE hackathons just keep popping up.
Maersk Tankers is the latest company to seek out digital solutions by bringing in coders, hackers, programmers and anyone with a digital gene to find solutions. It comes barely weeks after the operator’s parent group was spectacularly hit by a cyber attack. The company has yet to talk about why it is doing this Hackathon, saying it has not determined its media strategy around the event yet.
So what is a hackathon (which can also be called a hackfest, hack day or a code fest)?
In short, it’s an intensive two or so days where computer programmers get together and collaborate on writing useful software code that will hopefully assist in addressing known issues. It’s not only software designers, but IT project managers, interface specialists and graphic designers that will come to a hackathon. It has nothing to with hacking. Or rather it has, it’s just nothing to do with the most common use of the term “hacker” that people usually think about. A hacker is someone who has the ability to write or rewrite code, although it has trended as a term for those who have the ability to use such skills for malicious intent and break into computer systems.
According to Martin Schorling, Senior Lab Agent / Strategy LeadSPUTNIK5, a hackathon is “an all-in-one innovation process that moves from formulation of a challenge to idea generation and final selection, prototyping and pitch of ideas. The concept is composed of the words “hack” – separating a given product, service, or business model and assembling it in a new way to meet your own needs – and “marathon” – a hard and intense process.”
Here’s some maritime related hackathons that are coming soon: 
1. Maersk Tankers Hackathon, Copenhagen, August 2017
Sponsored by Maersk tankers, this hackathon calls for all innovators, coders, designers, entrepreneurs, data scientists, and business geeks to create new solutions for the tanker industry. A total of DKK 25,000 is offered to the winner.
2. The Hiab (Cargotec) Cargohack 3, Hudiksvall, Sweden, September, 2017
Held in Sweden later this year, this hackathon is focussed on logistics and load handling with the use of digital technology. The idea is for participants to come up with solutions that use digitalisation to improve load handling and make handling safer for the operator. Hiab, part of Cargotec Corporation will offer 200.000 SEK to pilot projects for up to 3 teams.
The World Port Hackathon is an entire community of maritime hackers that meet every now and again to focus on ideas for the port industry. Emerging technologies, open data, big data, and IoT are used to solve real port challenges. The 24-hour event sees programmers, designers, students, developers and others create solutions for specific challenges in a short space of time, sometimes not even taking a break to shower or sleep.
Aside from Rotterdam and NYC, they have already held events in (see below for more) Hamburg (2016), Le Havre (2016), Singapore (2015) and Antwerp (2016).The Partners for the events include MarineTraffic, Port of Rotterdam, Dinalog, SmartPort and many more.
The 5th World Port Hackathon, Rotterdam, September 2017
In just one month from now, the 5th world port hackathon will take place in Rotterdam. This hackathon will look at how the port can be disrupted and the potential of technologies for the port industry.
The New York and New Jersey Port Hackathon, Q1 2018
The NYC hackathon will focus on software, welcoming over 100 participants to build prototypes, rapid fire market validation and business model invention. Hackathon participants can benefit from mentors that stop by throughout the day to provide support, guidance and inspiration.
And some those that have been hacked already (The videos will give you a good idea of what goes on during a hackathon.)
1. Copenhagen Maritime and Transport Hackathon, June 2017, Copenhagen
This event was backed by INTTRA, Norden, DFDS and other partners and only recently took place at the end of June this year. Topics included automation and robotics, blockchain to disrupt the port, reducing waiting times at ports, predicting cargo flows and many more.
2. New York Port and City Hackathon, January 2017 
PortDispatch: a waze for ports won the January 2017 event, with US $5,000 prize. The 48-hour hackathon was a collective effort between Rainmaking Innovation, Ports America, the Port Authority of NY/NJ, Mærsk Group, Microsoft, Quintiq, INTTRA, Cisco and the Red Sea Gateway Terminal. Topics included the use of robotics and reducing the long layovers in ports.
3. Kone Kranes 3rd Maritime Hackathon, Helsinki, November, 2016
Konecranes hosted the third industrial hackathon in, Finland, which focused on automated cargo handling where containers move from vessel to yard and from yard to truck via machine-to-machine communication.
A total of seven teams were selected to join the Konecranes challenge at Maritime Hack and the winning team, Team Nortel, received € 7,000.
These are the World Port Hackathon events that have already been held.
The Hamburg Maritime Hackathon, Hamburg, November 2016
World Port Hackathon, Rotterdam, September 2016 
One year ago The World Port Hackathon held its 4th hackathon in Rotterdam. The overall best idea was the solution of De Delftse Delegatie, which uses blockchain technology to detect potential fraudulent actions in the supply chain. It allows customs to detect and validate where in the supply chain is intervened to, for example, change the contents of a container. If implemented properly, shippers and other participants will not be held accountable for fraudulent actions they did not commit. They were awarded €1.500 for their efforts.
The Smart Port Hackathon, Le Havre, 2016 
Smart Port Hackathon 2015 was organised by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore and consisted of 120 participants from 21 teams, producing 21 maritime-related technology prototypes. First prize of US $5,000 was team TBG, which developed a 3D visualisation tool that shows ships in the area against land, weather conditions and tidal data points. It provides vessel traffic information system operators with better situational awareness by having information of real-time conditions.
The Smart Port Hackathon, Singapore 2015
One year ago, The World Port Hackathon held its 4th hackathon in Rotterdam. The overall best idea was the solution of De Delftse Delegatie, which uses blockchain technology to detect potential fraudulent actions in the supply chain. It allows customs to detect and validate where in the supply chain is intervened to, for example, change the contents of a container. If implemented properly, shippers and other participants will not be held accountable for fraudulent actions they did not commit. They were awarded €1.500 for their efforts.
Fathom-News
editor@fathom-mi.com
