Some are calling it the “Olympics of nautical skills.”

Students from the Marine Institute’s Nautical Science and Marine Engineering programs are taking part in the 14th annual Nautical Skills Competition this weekend. The annual event is hosted by the Master Mariners of Canada – NL Division.

Master Mariner Kris Drodge says it’s about mentoring the next generation of seafarers and allowing students to test their skills in a controlled environment. He notes that a few years ago they started bringing high school students into the mix, something he calls “an exciting piece of this competition.”

Drodge says the competitions are “as real as you can get,” with today’s events focused on simulator-based exercises. He praises the Marine Institute’s facilities, calling its suite of simulators one of the most advanced “in the country, if not the world.”

“This is real,” says Drodge. “Students have had full access and have been practicing for the past number of weeks… We have advanced simulators, we have in-class labs, [and] the mechanical pieces that we’ve now introduced. They’re all hands-on, engaging, immersive, and they love it.”