Challenging times at the Hackathon

Frankly, this article could do with a better headline, because it’s an intriguing glimpse into the juncture where the port industry and some of the world’s most advanced software programmers collide – at the annual World Port Hackathon. Yep, you read that right. Now in its fourth year, the World Port Hackathon, supported by the ports of Rotterdam and Singapore, invites around 100 “non-port geeks” and asks them to solve some more traditional port-related problems using disruptive technologies – such as developing an Airbnb-esque solution to create berthing windows for vessels. This winning idea was called Blockchain for Customs which “adapts the blockchain technology that underpins the bitcoin currency to detect potential fraudulent actions in the supply chain”.