Marine Insight Launches The First-Ever International Maritime Olympiad 2026
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Global Competition to Establish Universal Benchmark, Directly Connecting Top Maritime Students with the Best Recruiters
Marine Insight, one of the world’s leading maritime knowledge platforms with a global audience exceeding 1.5 million professionals, educators, and students, today announced the official launch of the International Maritime Olympiad (IMO) 2026.
Scheduled to take place online on February 7, 2026, this launch is a historic moment for the industry, as it introduces the first-ever global competitive exam for maritime students.
Academic Disciplines such as Mathematics and Computer Science have had global competitions, including the International Mathematical Olympiad and ICPC. In contrast, the maritime industry has relied heavily on a pass/fail system and widely varying grades across institutions.
The Olympiad will change this, allowing the industry to objectively rank and identify the top-performing students across countries and institutions for the first time.
Speaking about the launch, Marine Insight highlighted that the Olympiad will become:
“The global stage where the next generation of seafarers, engineers, and maritime leaders are identified, recognised, and celebrated.”
Raunek Kantharia, CEO and Founder of Marine Insight, said, “We are introducing the first global yardstick of maritime academic excellence, giving high-performing students the differentiated recognition they deserve.”
About The Olympiad
The 45-minute exam is expected to draw over 2,000 participants from 30+ countries and 150+ maritime institutions, focusing on both core academic knowledge and real-world industry awareness.
It will include 100 multiple-choice questions from the following areas-
| Navigation & Marine Engineering | 40 marks |
| Maritime Regulations & Safety | 20 marks |
| General Maritime Knowledge | 20 marks |
| Maritime Current Affairs | 20 marks |
Examination Details
| Exam Date | 7th February 2026 |
| Registration Fee | ₹999 (India) $20 ( International) |
| Registration Window | December 2024 – January 2026 |
| Eligibility | Students pursuing Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, GME, Naval Architecture, Maritime Management, and other maritime programs. |
| How to Participate | Maritime students and institutions can register at the official Olympiad portal. |
Benefits For Participants
Every Participant will get-
- International certificate with global, national & college ranking
- Performance badges (Top 1%, Top 5%, Top 10%, Top 25%)
- A “Founding Participant” badge (2026 edition only)
- Section-wise performance analysis
- LinkedIn-ready credentials and verified recognition
Top Performers Receive-
| Top 500 | CV access by global crewing and shipping companies |
| Top 100 | Feature coverage on Marine Insight + networking with hiring managers |
| Top 20 | Invitation to Grand Finals Physical medals and trophies Share of the $5,000 prize pool Country- and college-level recognition |
Visibility and Benchmarking for Colleges
Participating maritime institutions also gain significant advantages, including:
- Global & National College Rankings based on student performance.
- College Excellence Awards for top institutions.
- Objective data to improve their curriculum and support accreditation.
- Increased visibility to international recruiters.
- Feature coverage across Marine Insight’s 1.5M+ audience
Marine Insight invites maritime academies worldwide to partner in this initiative and showcase their country’s talent globally.
Source: Maritime Shipping News