Idan Ofer's Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is teaming up with entrepreneur network Techstars to launch the first global maritime technology start-up accelerator.

The EPS MaritimeTech Accelerator will be based at the shipowner's head office in Singapore.

Gil Ofer, business development manager at EPS, said in a statement: “The merchant maritime industry is one of the oldest in the world, yet advancements in the business come slowly, lagging behind the latest technological trends that other mature industries readily adopt.