OOCL Partners with Microsoft for AI Project

Hong Kong-based shipping company Orient Overseas Container Line Limited (OOCL) has partnered with Microsoft's research arm to improve network operations and achieve efficiencies within the shipping industry through applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) research. The partnership, between OOCL and Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), will apply deep learning research to shipping network operations with a projected $10 million annual operational cost saving. The collaboration is also expected to nurture over 200 AI developers over the next 12 months. "With MSRA's efforts and expertise, we expect to save around 10 million in operation costs annually by applying the AI research and techniques for optimizing shipping network operations from our most recent 15-week engagement," said Steve Siu, Chief Information Officer of OOCL. "Moving forward, we will embark on an 18-month joint-partnership in research and development to apply deep learning and reinforcement learning in shipping network operations. Moreover, MSRA will assist us in training over 200 AI engineers by conducting machine learning and deep learning sessions at the Hong Kong Science Park over the next 12 months. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with MSRA to leverage AI research and innovations to drive digital transformation in the shipping industry and to exchange knowledge among our top developers so that we can better address customer needs with advanced technologies and predictive analytics."