LA, Antwerp Partner to Advance Port Technologies

In an effort to spur technology-based innovation in the port and maritime environment, the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Antwerp in Belgium  are hosting an international “Hackathon.” The technology competition will take place October 11-13, 2018 simultaneously in the two cities and involve participants from around the world.

The Hackathon has been organized under the chainPORT initiative, a collaboration of 12 ports launched in 2015 to digitally connect ports worldwide, share best practices for handling the largest containerships in the global fleet and boost efficiency within the global maritime supply chain.

“Ports must continue to incorporate the latest and most promising technologies in order to remain competitive in today’s dynamic global supply chain environment,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “The Port of Los Angeles is pleased to host a Hackathon for the third consecutive year and we look forward to seeing the ideas that emerge from this unique and unconventional approach to technology development.”

The Hackathon will be open invitation, encouraging teams from various backgrounds and professions to work together on a set of local and global challenges. Challenge subjects will include inter-port information sharing, mobility, safety and security. Ideas will be presented to a jury of experts on the event’s final day, and winners’ ideas may be further developed and implemented through a special business and academic follow-up track.