Hatch partners with the Montreal Port Authority on Smart Port Challenge
Hatch is partnering with the Montreal Port Authority on the Smart Port Challenge (Défi Port intelligent), launched at École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), an engineering school based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This challenge is a part of the course Simulation des opérations et des activités de services (Service Operations Simulation), a component of the bachelor of operations and logistics engineering program. Teams address concrete logistics problems based on real issues facing the Port of Montreal. To encourage the development of innovative solutions, a $3,000 scholarship for first prize and a $2,000 scholarship for second prize—for a total of $10,000 annually—are offered jointly by the Montreal Port Authority and Hatch to the two winning teams. A jury consisting of Montreal Port Authority ambassadors, Hatch experts, and the teaching staff appraises the recommendations made.
"The Smart Port Challenge is a great example of how industry and academia can partner to drive innovation. In order to succeed, students must work as a team throughout the term in order to consider all the required deliverables and thus find and recommend creative and practical solutions when comes time to deliver their final recommendations,” says Jean-François Boulet, lecturer at ÉTS since 2010 and simulation lead at Hatch.
The project chosen for the 2019–2020 school year relates to the Contrecœur port terminal expansion. Students must maximize truck entry to increase the flow of heavy vehicles in an environment with increasing traffic.
Jean-Nicolas Thibodeau, Smart Port Challenge ambassador and committee member, and assistant manager, Contrecœur project for the Montreal Port Authority says, "Through the Smart Port Challenge, and more specifically with regard to the new Contrecœur project, the innovative ideas introduced by the students provide new opportunities that have yet to be explored and which could have an impact on our major project."
"The Smart Port Challenge represents the very essence of ÉTS and the current industry. In a school setting, we are encouraged to come up with concrete solutions and present them to experts in the field. Although demanding, this challenge is indeed the most rewarding project in our journey," claims Noémie Pinsonnault-Duchemin, Smart Port Challenge past participant (Fall 2018 session) and engineer-in-training, Project Controls at Hatch.
About Hatch
Whatever our clients envision, our engineers can design and build. With over 60 years of business and technical experience in the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, we know your business and understand that your challenges are changing rapidly. We respond quickly with solutions that are smarter, more efficient and innovative. We draw upon our 9,000 staff with experience in over 150 countries to challenge the status quo and create positive change for our clients, our employees, and the communities we serve.
To learn more, go to: www.hatch.com
About the Montreal Port Authority
Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is the 2nd largest port in Canada and a diversified transshipment center that handles all types of cargo: containerized and non- containerized, liquid bulk and dry bulk. It is a leading container port served by the largest container shipping lines in the world.
The Port of Montreal has its own rail network directly on the dock. It is linked to two Pan-Canadian railway networks, as well as to a network of highways. The Port operates a passenger terminal. All the other terminals are managed by private stevedoring companies. Port activity maintains 16,000 jobs and generates about $2.1 billion dollars per year.
About École de Technologie Supérieure
École de Technologie Supérieure is one of ten institutions that make up Université du Québec. It trains engineers and researchers who are recognized for their practical and innovative approach, and the development of new technologies and their transfer to companies. In Québec, one in four engineers is a graduate of ÉTS; the school totals 10,500 students, including 2,700 in graduate programs. Specializing in applied education and engineering research, it has a unique partnership with business and industry. To learn more, go to: www.etsmtl.ca