Events

About the Scheme

To recognise Hong Kong deck and engine cadets (“cadets”) for their outstanding performance and unique contribution aboard the sea-going vessels, the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board (“HKMPDB”) and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum jointly present the Hong Kong Outstanding Maritime Deck and Engine Cadets Recognition Scheme 2026 (the “Scheme”).

By showcasing cadets’ success stories and achievements, the Scheme seeks to:

• Inspire more young people to pursue careers in the maritime industry; and
• Cultivate a new generation of local seafarers.

Awards

The award aims at recognising Hong Kong cadets working for sea-going vessels who have demonstrated the commitment and high potential for further development and advancement in the field, as evidenced by their exemplary performance at work, as well as their excellent contributions to the organisations/companies they are now working for. There are two separate awards:

(i) Outstanding serving deck cadets for sea-going vessels (“Deck Cadet Award”)
(ii) Outstanding serving engineer cadets for sea-going vessels (“Engine Cadet Award”)

The list of award recipients will be announced on the Award website. The awardees and their belonging shipping companies will be informed of the results and details of the award presentation ceremony by email.

Eligibility of Nominee

Nominee must:

• Be a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region; and
• Be
  • a deck or engine cadet working on a sea-going vessel of a Hong Kong shipping company (the “nominating company”) and with at least 12-month of seagoing service (with a maximum of 10% of the required 12-month sea service eligible for remission granted by Marine Department)
  OR
  • an individual who has completed his/her cadetship within 18 months immediately preceding the nomination deadline

Submission Requirements

For Cadets who accumulated the required seagoing service period with the nominating company, copies of Seafarer’s Employment Registration Book (pages showing identity and sea-service entries) and Letter of Employment as Cadet issued by the nominating company should be provided

For Cadets who accumulated the required seagoing service period with more than one companies, apart from copies of Seafarer’s Employment Registration Book (pages showing identity and sea-service entries) and Letter of Employment as Cadet issued by the nominating company, a proper endorsement from the cadets’ previous master(s) or employer(s) who have supervised or employed the cadets between September 2025 and August 2026 should also be provided

Eligibility of Nominating Company

All shipping companies employing Hong Kong cadets on sea-going vessels are eligible for making nominations for both Deck Cadet Award and Engine Cadet Award. Each company could nominate no more than five nominees for each of the awards.

Nomination Procedures

1. Fill out the Nomination Form, the Self-Assessment Form by Cadets and the Master Endorsement Checklist.
2. Submit all the required documents to the Secretariat of the HKMPDB by email to cadetsregscheme@tlb.gov.hk on or before 25 September 2026 (Friday).

Nomination Form

Judging Panel

The judging panel will comprise representatives from the HKMPDB and the maritime industry. The decision of the panel shall be final.

Assessment Criteria

Personal attributes
(i) Discipline and professionalism;
(ii) Safety awareness and compliance;
(iii) Job aspirations and self-development;
(iv) Adaptability and resilience; and
(v) Team work and communication.

Other attributes
(i) Problem solving and analytical skills;
(ii) Initiative and work commitment;
(iii) Integrity and work ethnics; and
(iv) Appearance and manner.

Assessment Process

A two-stage adjudication process will be adopted and details are as follows:

1. Stage 1
The Judging Panel will assess the nominee’s cadetship attainments based on the information provided in the nomination form (including the personal profile, a 5-minute self-introduction video or a 500-word personal statement, self-assessment form (to be completed by the cadet) and master checklist (to be completed by the Master) to determine eligibility for Stage 2. Judging panel will assess the nominees based on a number of prescribed criteria. Only those nominees who have attained the threshold score will be selected to the Stage 2.

2. Stage 2
The selected nominees will be invited to attend an interview (either in person or online) conducted by the Judging Panel for the selection of the awardees. Only those nominees who have attained the threshold score for Stage 2 will receive the award.

Important Dates

Submission of nomination by nominating company email	9 September 2026 to 25 September 2026
Assessment	October 2026
Announcement of award	October 2026
Award Presentation Ceremony	November 2026 during Hong Kong Maritime Week