ET, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Petredec Global and Pacific International Lines join the Singapore Maritime Foundation in engaging tertiary talent for the 7th edition of the annual case competition

The Singapore Maritime Foundation  announced the winning teams of the MaritimeONE Case Summit 2026 at the Award Ceremony. Mr. Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, attended the event as Guest-of-Honour.

Now in its 7th edition, the objectives of the MaritimeONE Case Summit are to galvanise students from Singapore’s universities and polytechnics to apply their knowledge to practical challenges from the industry; while helping them hone their ability to work in teams, acquire cross-disciplinary skills, and build professional networks.

This year’s four challenge statements, issued by leading maritime companies AET, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Petredec Global and Pacific International Lines (PIL), spanned safer and more efficient lightering operations, a credible framework to measure and reduce carbon emissions, strategies to strengthen energy security, and data-driven approaches to optimise bunkering decisions across ports.

The competition drew 374 students across 120 teams this year. Participation from polytechnic students nearly doubled from the previous edition, with 116 polytechnic students taking part alongside their university peers. The teams were diverse and multi- disciplinary, with members pursuing maritime studies, data science, business, supply chain, and engineering.

Quote from SMF Chairman

“Now into its 7th year, the MaritimeONE Case Summit shows us how much our youths can achieve, with teams rising to the occasion to respond to challenge statements reflecting the industry’s diverse spectrum. The teams have also become more multi- disciplinary, with students from data science, business, supply chain, and engineering joining peers in maritime studies. I thank AET, MSC, Petredec Global and PIL for providing worthwhile challenges to our students to put that breadth of expertise to work, and for mentoring them closely through the process,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.

The following are the winning teams of the MCS 2026:

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Mr. Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, attended the event as Guest-of-Honour

Quotes from AET and Champion Team

“At AET, we believe the future of maritime lies in the people we invest in today. This year’s MaritimeONE Case Summit challenge asked students to reimagine the end-to-end planning process for ship-to-ship transfers under real-world operating constraints. The quality of thinking the teams brought to this was impressive, with several proposing data- driven approaches that could help reduce costs and strengthen safety and resilience in our operations. Congratulations to all the participants for their dedication and creativity throughout the challenge. We thank the Singapore Maritime Foundation for continuing to provide this platform and remain a committed partner in nurturing the next generation and strengthening a resilient, future-ready maritime industry,” said Mr. Nick Potter, President & CEO, AET.

“Our motivation behind joining MCS 2026 was to address authentic obstacles in the dynamic maritime sector, where we can leverage our computing and analytics background to design innovative solutions. For young Singaporeans, such case competitions unlock vital firsthand insights into the field, paving the way for greater certainty and direction when navigating our future professional pathways,” said Team seanergy, champion team of AET.

Team seanergy from NUS and NTU – Champion Team for AET

Quotes from the MSC Asia Regional Office and Champion Team

“As I reviewed the presentations for MaritimeONE Case Summit – From Commute to Carbon Management, I was encouraged by the depth of thought, innovation, and maturity displayed by the participants. The challenge was not simply about calculating emissions, but about creating practical solutions that organisations can realistically adopt. Every team brought unique perspectives, and collectively they have shown that the future of sustainability leadership is in capable hands. I would like to congratulate the participants who have devoted their time, energy, and creativity to this challenge. Well done!

Sincere appreciation to Singapore Maritime Foundation for making this competition a meaningful, impactful and inspiring success,” said Ms. Grace Chia, Managing Director, MSC Asia Regional Office.

“MSC’s challenge gave us the opportunity to apply data analysis, business decision- making and sustainability knowledge to a practical problem with measurable impact. Developing a solution for business travel and employee commuting has shown us how classroom knowledge can be translated into something that could be piloted in Singapore and scaled further. Competitions like MCS give Singaporean youths valuable exposure to real. industry challenges and the opportunity to contribute practical ideas to the future of Maritime Singapore,” said Team SeaO2, champion team of MSC Asia Regional Office.

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Team SeaO2 from NUS – Champion Team for MSC Asia Regional Office

Quotes from Petredec Global and Champion Team

“Petredec Global is privileged to once again sponsor the MaritimeONE Case Summit, and we would like to express our sincere thanks to all the participants for the time, effort and thoughts they have put into this year’s challenge. As a company operating in the oil and gas sector, we are navigating unprecedented times where decision-making must continue despite volatility and uncertainty. While we have experience navigating volatile markets, the students bring a fresh perspective, and we truly value their ideas and insights in the current climate. Congratulations to the winning teams and well done to everyone who took part. We wish all the participants every success in the path they choose, and we hope the experience has been as valuable and inspiring for them as it has been for us. Our sincere thanks also go to the Singapore Maritime Foundation for creating this platform and bringing together the next generation of maritime talent,” said Mr. Andrew Hoatson, Head of LPG Trading, Petredec Global.

“Our team specifically chose the Petredec Global challenge statement because the opportunity to address an ongoing global crisis felt different and tangible. Coming from a background in consulting and finance, we wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the infrastructure that is required for global trade to occur instead of simply sticking to what we were familiar with. This competition pushed us to understand more of the various factors surrounding LPG trade in today’s uncertain environment: geopolitics, infrastructural needs, and changing demand sentiments.

Competitions like MCS are important as they help narrow the gap between theory and practice. We gained both hard and soft skills such as research and graphic design, as well as opportunity to network and understand global issues from an industry point of view. Given Singapore’s position as a global maritime hub, it is important that we understand what goes on behind the scenes that determines how energy flows in the world,” said Team maritime mamas, champion team of Petredec Global.

Quotes from PIL and Champion Team

“Fuel procurement is an increasingly complex and dynamic activity, driving the need for more informed, timely, and cost-effective data-driven decision-making. The teams have demonstrated a good understanding of these challenges, recognising the factors that influence bunkering decisions and the potential of data, analytics, and digital tools to enhance decision quality and operational efficiency. Their proposals have remained focused on the objectives of the case challenge and offer promising ideas for further development. We look forward to seeing the teams’ final solutions and the value they can bring to the future of maritime fuel procurement,” said Mr. Abhishek Chawla, Chief Marine Officer, Pacific International Lines.

“MCS 2026 gave us the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and apply our knowledge to tackle real-world challenges facing Singapore’s maritime industry. In turn, we hope to explore new perspectives and deepen our understanding of the issues before

challenging ourselves to develop innovative solutions. Competitions like MCS are valuable for Singaporean youth as they foster collaboration and develop practical problem-solving skills, encouraging them to play a greater role in shaping the future of Maritime Singapore,” said Team Bunkology, champion team of PIL.

Team Bunkology from NTU – Champion Team for PIL