Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands | Maples and Calder announced today their partnership with The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) to present The Cayman Islands SeaPerch Challenge 2016 on Saturday, 12 March at the Grand Cayman Beach Suites.

The competition follows a series of free seminars hosted for over 260 students from various local schools, which WISTA and the firm also organised, given by SeaPerch Executive Director, Susan Nelson and Naval Surface Warfare Center Electrical Engineer, Bill Porter, where students and teachers were able to learn how to build underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (“ROV”).

The SeaPerch underwater robotics programme provides a hands-on educational tool that teaches basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages students to explore marine architecture and ocean engineering principles. Students learn to build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme.

The programme provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics (STEM) while building an underwater ROV as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork and technical applications.

Sherice Arman, Maples and Calder attorney and President of the Cayman Islands chapter of WISTA, spearheaded the SeaPerch initiative with the assistance of fellow WISTA member Kaneesa Ebanks-Wilson.

“Cayman has such a strong seafaring history, so we hope that programmes such as this will create opportunities for young people in the Cayman Islands to open their minds to the possibility of careers in the maritime industry,” commented Arman. “We are very pleased with the response and enthusiasm that we have received from students and teachers thus far and we look forward to a successful event on 12 March.”

The Cayman Islands SeaPerch Challenge 2016 will be a regional competition where students from various schools will compete with their newly constructed ROVs in a series of in-pool technical challenges. The challenges will include an obstacle course and sprint challenge along with poster presentations allowing students to demonstrate their new knowledge. The winning team will be provided the opportunity to travel and compete at the Sixth National SeaPerch Challenge to be held in May 2016 at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where over 150 teams from all over the US will be competing.

ENDS

About WISTA

The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association is an international organisation for women in management positions involved in the maritime transportation business and related trades worldwide. WISTA Cayman Islands is a non-profit organisation founded in 2014 and aims to be a major player in attracting more women to the maritime industry. With networking, education and mentoring in focus, WISTA aims to enhance members’ competence, empower career success and promote knowledge in shipping and trading related business.

About Maples and Calder

Maples and Calder is a leading international law firm advising financial, institutional, business and private clients around the world on the laws of the Cayman Islands, Ireland and the British Virgin Islands. Maples and Calder has offices in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, London and Singapore.

With a reputation as an innovative, entrepreneurial firm, Maples and Calder is known worldwide as a market leader with highly qualified lawyers who are specialists in their respective practice areas.

IMAGE: Caption: Students test out their newly built underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles, following one of the SeaPerch seminars held recently by The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association.