The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport Branch in Sharjah hosted the regional finals of the SeaPerch West Asia Challenge

The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport Branch in Sharjah (AASTS), hosted the the 2nd SeaPerch West Asia Challenge at its state-of-the-art campus. This was a part of the Arab Academy’s efforts to provide opportunities to students to showcase their skills by taking part in international events and competitions. The finals of the Seaperch West Asia Challenge were held in collaboration with the Sharjah Government. By the end of the regional competition, three top teams were shortlisted to represent West Asian countries for the international finals, scheduled to take place from the 4th to 6th of June, 2022, at the University of Maryland, United States.
The competition is organised by Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is powered by Underwater Robotics Challenges. Teams from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon took part in the Challenge. While Blue Tech team from Kuwait won the first place in the robotic show, and Golden Camelia team from the UAE secured the second place; the third place was shared by Adventurers team from the UAE and Majan team from Oman.
Other awardees included, Asas School team from Oman for the Best Design, Adventurers team from the UAE for the Best Team Spirit, The Mightiest Pearchers team from the UAE for the Best Robotics in Tactical Defense, Blue Tech Team from Kuwait for the Best Robotics in Maneuvering, and the GIS team from Oman for the Best Presentation.
Dr. Capt. Ahmed Youssef, Associate Dean of the College of Maritime Transport and Technology, AASTS said: “We have always been keen on making the Academy a bridge that links local talents with international institutions in order to motivate students to increase their practical and theoretical knowledge, as well as give them confidence in their capabilities to compete globally. This goes for both, the schools and the universities across the region. This international challenge was an ideal opportunity to teach students in the foundation stages to deal with modern technologies, and build Remotely Operated underwater Vehicles (ROV) for submarine missions. We are currently witnessing a massive demand for such innovations in the maritime industry.”
The competition took place in the Academy’s world-class swimming pool, which is built as per the highest standards for maritime training and international competitions. The Academy’s branch in Sharjah is the largest of all its branches and is comparable in size and capabilities to its headquarters in Alexandria. The Academy’s efforts are in line with the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to build an institution that would serve as one of the key pillars of the UAE’s blue economy, and the scientific arm for everything related to research, development, and innovation. This underlines the UAE’s support for maritime education, which it relies on to qualify skilled Emirati maritime professionals.