Did you know that over 80% of global trade by volume is transported by sea? Ocean shipping is the backbone of the global economy and while it is already one of the most efficient modes of transport in terms of emissions per tonne, there is still significant room for innovation and improvement.
Cargill Ocean Transportation, one of the world’s largest providers of bulk ocean shipping services and a leading freight-trading organisation, invites you to an exclusive workshop where participants will:
- Learn about digital transformation in the shipping industry
- Engage with real data and AI tools to co-design future AI products for a safe, responsible, and sustainable shipping future
Run in a Prompt-A-Thon challenge format, this workshop offers hands-on insights into shaping the future of AI in shipping.
The Challenge
At the core of maritime logistics lies the freight estimate, the basis for determining freight rates. A freight rate is not just a number: it is a critical decision point that influences competitiveness, profitability, and customer trust.
Generating an estimate requires balancing many dynamic factors:
- Cargo characteristics: type, volume, weight, and loading/discharge requirements.
- Voyage details: origin, destination, distance, and port restrictions.
- Market conditions: spot market volatility, vessel supply/demand, and seasonal shifts.
- Cost elements: bunker fuel, port charges, canal fees, CO2 emission regulations, and operating expenses.
- Voyage duration & risks: transit time, congestion, weather, and geopolitical challenges (War, Piracy...).
Traditional methods are time-intensive, dependent on expert judgment, and prone to variability. With markets moving quickly, delays or inaccuracies can mean missed opportunities and financial risk.
This Prompt-A-Thon challenges participants to design a prompt-driven AI system that enables Traders to generate structured, consistent, and realistic freight estimates, quickly and transparently. Outputs should include not only the estimated freight cost, but also bunker costs and voyage duration, empowering teams to make data-informed, repeatable decisions.
Participants can go beyond prompting, with the option to design applications or leverage APIs to enhance their solution.
Event Details
- Team Size: 3–5 participants per team
- Finalists: Top 10 teams advance to the final showcase
Prizes
- 🥇 1st Place – SGD 250 vouchers
- 🥈 2nd Place – SGD 150 vouchers
- 🥉 3rd Place – SGD 100 vouchers
Who should attend?
Students from all disciplines who want to learn more about the Maritime sector.
Speaker(s)
René Greiner
Senior Director, Data AI & Digital, Cargill Ocean Transportation
René leads transformative data-driven strategies in one of the world’s largest freight solutions providers for agriculture and energy. With over 20 years of experience in data strategy, AI and digital transformation in Commodity Trading, René has a proven track record of driving innovation, monetizing data, and optimizing trading operations through advanced analytics and AI.
René is passionate about leveraging AI and digital ecosystems to empower traders, analysts, and operators with actionable insights. Leading a high-performing team of data engineers, scientists, and product managers, René drives the development of cutting-edge digital products, scalable data platforms, and AI solutions that enhance decision-making and business performance.
Register by 13 October 2025.
(Registration will close once all slots are filled)
Career Workshops
Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Event Venue: YIH-03-05 Careerspace
Faculties: College of Design and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, School of Computing, NUS Business School
Target Audience: All students
Register