Custhome
A Velcro-inspired patch lets crews rearrange the ship's recreational room themselves
On board like at home
- Key fact
- > 5 %Projected officer shortage in the sector by 2026
- Team
- 3 master students
- Universities
- d.school Paris · École des Ponts
- Disciplines
- Computer Science · Social Sciences · Product Engineering
What happened, step by step.
Challenge
The maritime sector expects a global officer shortage above 5% by 2026. Fatigue, an industrial work environment and family isolation lead many officers to leave the profession around age 30 to 35.
What they built
A guidance platform plus the CustHome Patch, a Velcro-inspired fastening system for furniture. Seafarers use it to reorganise the recreational room, the main social hub on board, to suit rest, social time and other activities.
Impact
For seafarers, a warmer mess that helps them disconnect and recover. For the Deep Blue Foundation, visibility among shipowners and support for its advisory work in the maritime sector.
Full project text
The team’s original texts from the project page.
Fastening system to modularize the crew's recreational room onboard merchant ships.
Challenge
Faced with growing demand from shipowners, the maritime sector projects a global shortage of officers exceeding 5% by 2026. Despite dynamic training programs, early disillusionment drives many officers to leave the profession around age 30 to 35, due to intense fatigue, an industrial work environment, and family isolation. However, maintaining workforce numbers is strategic for the sector's competitiveness and French national sovereignty. The project aims to challenge daily life onboard to offset the constraints of the profession.
Solution
To improve rest periods, CustHome transforms the recreational room experience—the main social hub—into a modular, warm, and customizable space. Thanks to a guidance platform and an innovative Velcro-inspired furniture fastening system, the CustHome Patch, seafarers can easily reorganize their space according to their needs and activities, helping them relax, connect, and feel at home onboard.
Impact
This solution improves comfort and daily life in the crew's mess. For seafarers, this lever allows them to better disconnect and enhances their recovery capacity. For the Deep Blue Foundation, this solution provides visibility among shipowners and supports their commitment to providing advice and support for the maritime sector.
Watch the team’s pitch.
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From the field to the prototype.
Who built it.
Anaïs Achard
Human and Social Sciences
Barnabé Blanchard
Product Engineer
Alexandre Schwalberg
Computer Science Engineer