2026 Marine Skills Competition and Career Fair

NSCC's Marine Skills Competition brings together Engineering, Navigation and Bridge Watch cadets for team-building exercises that test their knowledge and abilities while fostering leadership skills and confidence. As they prepare to enter the industry as qualified ship officers, cadets will work in mixed teams to demonstrate their proficiency in key areas. The competition will challenge their expertise in safety, regulatory knowledge, and technical skills through hands-on stations. The event includes a gala dinner where the winners of the competition are announced and cadets have the opportunity to network with professionals in the marine sector.

The day after the Marine Skills Competition and gala, the event continues with the Marine Career Fair, providing marine cadets the opportunity to network with employers and share their resumes while gaining industry insights from speakers.

Schedule

Industry Round Table
Strait Area Campus
March 10, 3 to 5 pm

Marine Skills Competition
Strait Area Campus
March 11, 8:30 am to 3 pm
Navigators and Engineers work together to test their marine proficiencies - come watch, or even better, take part in this exciting fast-paced competition as a judge.*

Gala Dinner
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
March 11, 6 pm
Enjoy a three-course dinner amongst our cadets and other industry partners. This event sells out every year so reserve your seats early! Winners of the Marine Skills Competition are announced over dinner. Tickets are $60.*

Marine Career Fair/ Marine Company Presentations
Strait Area Campus
March 12, 9 am to 3:30 pm
Meet the next wave of NSCC Nautical Institute cadets - your future employees. Reserve your booth today.*

*For gala tickets, to volunteer as a judge, reserve a booth or for more information, please contact Kim Young at 902-631-4578 or email

Marine Skills Competition Itinerary

Time	Team  Mast Confusion	Team  Bouyz on Deck	Team  Stern Kickers	Team  Feeling 2 Knotty
8:30 am - 9 am	Welcome and introductions	Welcome and introductions	Welcome and introductions	Welcome and introductions
9:15 am - 10:15 am	Vessel Operations  Nav Simulator - Room 367 Eng Simulator - Room 325	Marine Engine Repair  Room 275	Seamanship Room 348	Vessel Safety Wave Tank
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Break	Break	Break	Break
10:30 am - 11:30 am	Marine Engine Repair  Room 275	Vessel Operations  Nav Simulator - Room 367 Eng Simulator - Room 325	Vessel Safety Wave Tank	Seamanship Room 348
11:30 am - 12: 30 pm	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Vessel Safety Wave Tank	Seamanship Room 348	Vessel Operations  Nav Simulator - Room 367 Eng Simulator - Room 325	Marine Engine Repair  Room 275
1:30 pm - 1:45 pm	Break	Break	Break	Break
1:45 pm - 2: 45 pm	Seamanship Room 348	Vessel Safety Wave Tank	Marine Engine Repair  Room 275	Vessel Operations  Nav Simulator - Room 367 Eng Simulator - Room 325

2026 Marine Skills Teams

Mast Confusion

Front row, left to right: Katelyn MacNeil, Michaela Navarro, Leagh Gillis
Back row, left to right: Taylor Power, Caleb Bennett, Hunter Jollymore, Angelica Weidner

Buoyz on Deck Front row, left to right: Skylar Miller, Dylan MacNeil, Rhys McPhail
Back row, left to right: Shaylee Bjornson, Caleb Vautor, Jacob Eager, Jaxon Greene

Stern Kickers

Front row, left to right: Simon Church, Cameron Chapman, Olivia MacLean
Back row, left to right: Rhys Doherty, Marcus Kernighan, Ravneet Singh, Marsha Tobisch

Feeling 2 Knotty

Front row, left to right: Troy Rutulis, Brooklyn Anderson, Chayton Henriques
Back row, left to right: Roughan Gaetz, Cameron MacLean, Kalen Meisner, Jessica Pavlov

Sponsors

A very special thank you to all our event sponsors for your continued generous support. Your contributions help provide welcoming and rich learning experiences for our cadets training for careers at sea.

Master/Chief level sponsors

Algoma Central Corporation is a global provider of marine transportation, owning and operating dry and liquid bulk carriers, including self-unloading dry-bulk carriers, gearless dry-bulk carriers and product tankers, that serve critical industries throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region and internationally. Focused on delivering exceptional customer service, utilizing fuel efficient vessels, and advancing innovative technologies, Algoma drives productivity while contributing to economic growth, strengthening communities, and supporting its people. Algoma truly is Your Marine Carrier of Choice™.

Atlantic Towing Limited has been a leader in marine services for over 50 years. As part of JDI integrated Logistics, we partner with our family of companies to provide comprehensive and customized transportation solutions to high-profile companies in a variety of industries. As a customer-centric company, we are committed to thoroughly understanding your marine transportation needs, and providing best solutions. Guiding our efforts are four simple, customer-facing priorities: Quality, Delivery, Cost and Innovation. We are Canadian-owned and operated. With a history of professionalism and safe service, industry-leading QHSE certifications, an innovative approach to vessel design and personnel training, and a focus on continually expanding the areas we serve, ATL brings successful marine transportation solutions to our customers around the world.

The CSL Group Inc. (CSL) of Montreal, Canada is a world-leading provider of marine dry bulk cargo handling and delivery services. Through its major operating divisions, Canada Steamship Lines, CSL Americas, CSL Australia, CSL Africa and CSL Peak (Europe), CSL owns and operates a highly diversified fleet of specialized self-unloading vessels, off-shore transhippers and handysize bulk carriers, and delivers more than 78 million tonnes of cargo to industrial customers annually. CSL's history can be traced back to 1845.

Horizon Maritime is a Canadian owned and operated company, whose management team has unrivalled experience having been integrally involved in all aspects of the marine industry for over 40 years. Horizon Maritime is an industry leading organization focused on vessel operations and the recruitment and placement of marine professionals in all sectors of the marine industry and positioned to service the unique challenges experienced in Canadian waters as well as harsh and deep water environments around the globe. Built on a foundation of trust and integrity, with an unwavering commitment to health and safety, Horizon Maritime is driven
by energetic, experienced, hands-on professionals in a collaborative environment to ensure a full range of turn-key services is delivered to our clients.

Our people are our greatest strength. We are committed to supporting our workforce at all levels, fostering a highly engaged and motivated team dedicated to exceptional service and the responsible care of people, vessels, and client assets. Horizon Maritime is proud of its reputation as an Employer of Choice, attracting and retaining talent bat all levels of the organization. Our employees are known for being client-focused, professional and experienced, solutions-oriented, safety-driven, and effective in delivering cost-efficient solutions.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at Horizon Maritime. We are an equal opportunity employer that actively hires, mentors, and supports individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, members of visible minorities, and persons with disabilities. We are committed to continuous improvement by identifying and removing barriers to participation and advancement.

We also work closely with universities, colleges, and marine training institutions across Canada to create meaningful learning and career opportunities for students and graduates, both shoreside and seagoing.

Northumberland Ferries has been transporting passengers and their vehicles between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia since 1941. This 75-minute voyage transits across the Northumberland Strait between Wood Islands, PEI and Caribou, NS. Two vessels provide seasonal service between the two provinces.

Bay Ferries operates and manages two vessels in Southwestern Nova Scotia. The MV Fundy Rose conducts daily crossings between Digby, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick. All types of Ro/Ro vehicles and walk-on passengers use the MV Fundy Rose across the Bay of Fundy. As well, Bay Ferries manages the high-speed CAT ferry between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Bar Harbor, Maine.

Officer level sponsors

Desgagnés is a driving force in Canadian and International merchant marine operations. Desgagnés is a Quebec conglomerate reputed for the excellence of its maritime and land operations. It is headquartered in Quebec City, with subsidiaries at major Canadian ports, in the Middle and Lower North Shore regions, and in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. With its tankers, cargo vessels, passenger and cargo carriers, Ro/Ro, and tugboats, with its charter, ship repair, refloating, heavy machinery rental, and road transportation services. Desgagnés stands as a leader in merchant marine operations.

Marine Atlantic Inc.(MAI) is a federal crown corporation which operates a year-round ferry service that is an essential transportation link between Nova Scotia and the Island of Newfoundland. It operates a 96-nautical-mile daily ferry service between Port aux Basques, NL and North Sydney, NS. In addition, MAI operates a 280-nautical-mile summer seasonal ferry service between Argentia, NL and North Sydney, NS.
To fulfill its service, Marine Atlantic operates a fleet of four ice-class ferries: Blue Puttees, Highlanders, Leif Ericson, and Ala’suinu. Given the essential nature the service provides to Newfoundland and Labrador, Marine Atlantic recognizes the importance of navigation and engineering cadets and program graduates to help sustain our supply of vessel officers.

Master Mariners of Canada is a national, not-for-profit association representing command-qualified master mariners, like-minded seafarers, industry members, and cadets across the country. Our organization takes official positions on important issues to ensure safety and to protect seafarers’ rights wherever they are working. Our work focuses on three main pillars: building awareness, supporting education and upholding advocacy.

Crew level sponsors

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA) provides a safe and efficient pilotage service to the marine community in Atlantic Canada. Our highly skilled marine pilots handle a wide variety of ships ranging from small foreign fishing vessels to some of the largest supertankers afloat. They, with the support of our pilot boat crew, make a vital contribution to the protection of the environment, to safeguarding the lives of mariners, and to preserving and promoting the economic wellbeing of the ports. Operating in over 30 ports across Atlantic Canada, we take pride in our longstanding tradition for providing a valuable pilotage service.

Cactus Ship Repair

Cooke - Since the company started in 1985, Cooke has been working to improve and advance the seafood industry with the help of key partners in science, engineering, and sustainable development. From humble beginnings to a global leader in aquaculture and wild fisheries, Cooke has remained committed to its communities by providing employment and economic development while valuing qualities such as respect, compassion and generosity. There is a wide array of careers available with the Cooke family of companies. An ocean of opportunity awaits!