01 · Seafarers
The people who keep global trade moving.
Professional mariners bring the realities of life at sea into the learning journey.
01
The Programme
WHAT IS ADOPT A SHIP?
Adopt A Ship is a real-world learning experience that helped more than 35,000 elementary School children more effectively learn geography and other subjects in 2019. It connects Elementary Schools with Seafarers on-board Ships. It increases Maritime Awareness. (Read more)
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George Hoyt, FNI
IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador (2015–2025)
Adopt A Ship International Global Coordinator
Adopt A Ship Program in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines in 2024
02
The Opportunity
WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?
It is FREE. Academic benefits have been objectively quantified. A United Nations Working Group, the International Maritime Organization, InterManager, the Nautical Institute, etc., have formally recognized, highlighted, praised and/or endorsed it. (Read more)
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LATEST UPDATES
Accolades
Partner Stories
Adopt A Ship International
ADOPT A SHIP INTERNATIONAL
CONNECTING CLASSROOMS TO THE WORLD OF MARITIME LEARNING
Where students discover ships, seafarers, global trade, geography, science, and the people who connect our world.
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Real-world learning
Where a map becomes a journey — and a lesson becomes a connection.
Students discover that the sea is not far away. It is connected to the food we eat, the goods we use, the places we visit, and the people who move global trade every day.
Learn More →The People Behind the Ships
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CONNECTION.
The maritime world is built by people — seafarers, teachers, students, and industry partners whose shared effort turns knowledge into opportunity.
02 · Teachers
The mentors who bring maritime learning into the classroom.
Teachers turn curiosity into questions, projects, and deeper understanding.
03 · Students
The next generation discovering the world beyond the classroom.
Students follow routes, cargo, cultures, science, and stories across the sea.
04 · Industry Partners
The organizations helping build stronger maritime communities.
Industry partners make authentic maritime learning possible.
Why Adopt A Ship?
WHY IT MATTERS
MARITIME AWARENESS
Understand the ships, people, and systems that connect our world.
GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING
See how oceans, trade, cultures, and communities are connected.
REAL-WORLD LEARNING
Turn classroom lessons into meaningful maritime experiences.
CAREER PATHWAY AWARENESS
Discover the many possibilities within the wider maritime industry.
Impact
MEASURING THE REACH OF MARITIME LEARNING.
0SchoolsPartner schools bringing maritime learning closer to students.
0StudentsYoung learners discovering the relevance of the maritime world.
0Industry PartnersShipping and maritime organizations supporting the program.
0Week Learning ExperienceA structured journey designed around real-world maritime learning.
Students · Ships · Seafarers
FROM CLASSROOM CURIOSITY TO GLOBAL CONNECTION
Students explore the people, vessels, science, trade, and communities that connect the world through the sea.
Join the Community
BRING THE WORLD OF MARITIME LEARNING INTO YOUR COMMUNITY
Join Adopt A Ship International and become part of a growing global community connecting students, educators, seafarers, ships, and maritime industry partners.
Adopt A Ship International · News & Events
Stories from the Maritime Learning Community.
Explore program activities, milestones, events, and stories from the schools, students, teachers, seafarers, and partners who bring Adopt A Ship International to life.
Adopt A Ship Young Mariners Quiz Bee with Wallem-Westminster and SAESAdopt A Ship Young Mariners Quiz Bee with Anglo-Eastern and LRCSMARITIME CAMP 2025: Marlow Navigation and San Pedro SchoolsAdopt a Ship International Wins Industry Partner Award at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2025Secondary Maritime Interschool Quiz BeeAdopt A Ship Young Mariners Quiz Bee with SCM and A1CESAAS at Fairmont Magsaysay Closing Ceremony With RCESOSM THOME CLOSING CEREMONY WITH LESMARLOW NAVIGATION Closing Ceremony With MES, P2CES & CESASP CREW MANAGEMENT SERVICES Closing Ceremony WITH BSESAdopt A Ship Young Mariners Quiz Bee with Wallem-Westminster and SAESAdopt A Ship Young Mariners Quiz Bee with Anglo-Eastern and LRCSMARITIME CAMP 2025: Marlow Navigation and San Pedro SchoolsAdopt a Ship International Wins Industry Partner Award at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2025Secondary Maritime Interschool Quiz BeeAdopt A Ship Young Mariners Quiz Bee with SCM and A1CESAAS at Fairmont Magsaysay Closing Ceremony With RCESOSM THOME CLOSING CEREMONY WITH LESMARLOW NAVIGATION Closing Ceremony With MES, P2CES & CESASP CREW MANAGEMENT SERVICES Closing Ceremony WITH BSES
FROM THE MARITIME COMMUNITY
Latest Articles
Explore the latest stories, milestones, school activities, and maritime learning experiences from Adopt A Ship International.
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FAQs
Questions & Answers
Search questions about ships, seafarers, maritime life, and the maritime industry.
Use a keyword such as ship, navigation, life at sea, ocean, or career to find relevant entries.
Videos
Video Library
Search and explore videos about ships, seafarers, navigation, oceans, safety, and the maritime industry.
Browse by topic or search by title, description, or category. Each result includes a short description and a direct link to the video.
Learning Resources
Learning Modules
Choose Private or Public, then select the grade level you want to explore.
Learning modules provide structured maritime learning content that can support classroom discussion, student activities, and deeper exploration of the maritime world.
Private Learning Modules
Teaching Resources
Lesson Guides
Choose Private or Public, then select the grade level you want to explore.
Lesson Guides are designed as practical teaching references, helping educators connect maritime themes with age-appropriate classroom learning and discussion.
Private Lesson Guides
Privacy
Privacy Policy
This page provides information about privacy and data practices for the Adopt A Ship Library.
About this website
The Adopt A Ship Library is an educational resource for students, educators, and maritime learners. It provides access to maritime questions, videos, learning modules, and lesson guides.
External services
Some resources on this website link to or use third-party services such as Google Drive and YouTube. Those services may have their own privacy policies and terms.
Contact and updates
This Privacy Policy section will be updated when the organization adopts its final approved privacy and data-protection policy.
Adopt A Ship International
About Adopt A Ship International
A non-profit effort helping create, manage and coordinate “Adopt A Ship” and Adopt A Ship Orphanages and Shelters “AaSOS” programs in as many countries as possible.
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Our Purpose
A Free Educational Program for All Children
Building maritime awareness, understanding, connection and opportunities through education.
“Adopt A Ship” is a FREE PROGRAM that provides educational benefits and maritime professional career opportunities for all children, while increasing maritime awareness.
This free, useful, sustainable, enjoyable and well-developed “tool” helps begin the process of increasing children's awareness of seafarers, shipping and the maritime community, and the important role they play in the quality of life for everyone on the planet.
In addition to providing children with education benefits and career opportunities, it can also help increase the number of countries where seafarers and other maritime professionals are recognized as “Essential Workers.”
History
From Cyprus to a Global Program
The Adopt A Ship Program began as a connection between elementary schools and seafarers and later expanded internationally.
The “Adopt A Ship” Program was initiated by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) and the Cyprus Maritime Environmental Protection Association (CYMEPA) in 2006, bringing together elementary schools and seafarers on board ships operated by CSC members.
The program expanded into the Philippines, Poland, India and Greece in 2017. More than 80 ships participated in the Cyprus program, more than 50 ships participated in the Poland program in 2019, and more than 35,000 children participated globally in 2019.
The program has been praised by organizations and maritime leaders including a United Nations Working Group, the IMO Secretary General, CSC, the Cyprus Government, InterManager, The Nautical Institute, MAPS, IWSF and others.
WATCH THE 4-MINUTE FILM →How It Works
The Basic Adopt A Ship Program
Versions vary from country to country, but the basic program follows these core elements.
Weekly Ship-to-School Connection
A senior officer, usually the Captain, exchanges a short email message with an elementary school classroom, orphanage or shelter once a week.
Track the Ship
Children use a 2 × 3 meter world map with sea lanes to track the movement of their adopted ship.
Program Options
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Participating programs may include one or more of the following options.
Get Involved
Join Us
George Hoyt, FNI · IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador (2015-2025) · Adopt A Ship International Global Coordinator ·
ADOPT A SHIP PHILIPPINES ON FACEBOOK →Adopt A Ship International
Why & How Should You Participate?
It is FREE. Academic benefits have been objectively quantified. Adopt A Ship is an enjoyable and effective way for elementary school children to learn geography, commerce, culture, the marine environment, and thousands of professional maritime career opportunities onboard ships and ashore.
← Back to Adopt A Ship Library
Get Involved
Join Hands With Us to Increase Maritime Awareness
There are various options to join hands with us to increase maritime awareness. Choose the option that best fits your organization.
Online Registration
Registration Form
Latest from the Philippines
Adopt A Ship International · Social Media
Stay Connected to the Journey.
Follow Adopt A Ship International across our social channels for maritime education stories, student activities, program moments, videos, and community updates.
Our digital community
One program. Many voices. A global maritime community.
Our social channels extend the learning journey beyond the classroom. Discover the people, partnerships, activities, and stories shaping Adopt A Ship International.