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SCHOLARS'

EXPERIENCE

Steering to a digital era

The maritime industry in Singapore has been propelling its efforts in adopting digitalisation and automation for its processes and systems. 

These digital solutions include robotic processing automation, vessel management, order booking and deployment, and video surveillance and monitoring.

To meet the needs of the digital revolution, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) invests in its talents. One of them is 24-year-old MPA Local Undergraduate Scholarship holder Putra Mohammad Danish. 

The third-year National University of Singapore (NUS) Computer Engineering undergraduate received the scholarship after the first year of his studies. 

Mr Danish will serve a three-year bond at MPA after he graduates from NUS. Before applying for the scholarship, he read articles about MPA moving to adopt more technology. 

Last year, Mr Danish completed a sixmonth internship at MPA’s Port Systems Development Department and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Department. 

During the internship, he explored emerging technologies such as drones, smart glasses and collision detection technology that can be utilised in the maritime industry. 

The future is digital 
Mr Danish also used data visualisation tools to help several departments use data analytics in forecasting and future planning. 

“The future of MPA depends heavily on data analytics and technology. As I enter my final years in university, I will focus on specialisations such as artificial intelligence (AI),” he says. 

“My studies will be applicable when I serve my bond as MPA will be surging forward with technology as the enabler. Big data is coming, and I intend to use my skills to better understand and utilise big data for MPA.” 

This April, Mr Danish will start his fivemonth undergraduate exchange programme at Technical University of Munich in Germany, where he will be selecting some AI-related courses. 

“This scholarship motivates me to do better in university, and also shed light on what specialisations to take. I was quite unsure of my specialisation track prior to the internship with MPA,” he says. 

Outside of his studies, Mr Danish is a rugby referee with the Singapore Society of Rugby Union Referees. 

He is also a referee for Asia Rugby, which gives him opportunities to travel to carry out refereeing duties. 

“Countries I’ve travelled to include Japan, United Arab Emirates and India. Last month, I refereed the women’s rugby sevens bronze medal match at the Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines,” he says.