The #NavigateWithCare campaign is reaching a new generation.
MENAS is pleased to support the latest chapter of Navigate with Care, the joint initiative developed by our parent organisation, the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), and the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation to promote safer and more environmentally responsible navigation.
Last year, MENAS General Manager Mahdi Al-Mousawi contributed to the Navigate with Care webinar series, sharing regional expertise on Aids to Navigation and the role they play in helping mariners navigate safely while protecting the marine environment.
Now, these same ideas are being brought to young people around the world through the 2027 Science Without Borders® Challenge.
This year’s theme, Navigate with Care, invites students aged 11–19 to create original artwork exploring how responsible decisions on the water can protect people, marine life and sensitive ocean ecosystems — from slowing down around whales and using mooring buoys instead of anchoring on coral reefs, to following Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) and avoiding collisions and groundings.
Catherine Mulvihill, MENAS/IFAN Chief Executive Officer, said:
“At IFAN and MENAS, safe navigation and protection of the marine environment go hand in hand. It is exciting to see Navigate with Care now extending its reach to young people around the world, encouraging the next generation to understand that the choices we make on the water can have a lasting impact on our ocean.”
Mahdi Al Mosawi, MENAS General Manager, said:
“Through the Navigate with Care webinar series, we had the opportunity to share how Aids to Navigation contribute not only to safety at sea, but also to protecting the marine environment,” said Mahdi Al-Mousawi, General Manager of MENAS. “Bringing that message to young people through art is a powerful way to build awareness early and inspire more responsible navigation in the future.”
Entries are judged in two age groups, 11–14 and 15–19, with first, second, and third place scholarships of $500, $350, and $200 awarded in each category. Two additional $50 People’s Choice awards allow the public to help celebrate their favorite artwork.
Entries must be submitted by March 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Students, teachers, and families can learn more about this year’s theme, review the contest rules and grading rubric, and submit artwork at lof.org/SWBChallenge.
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About the Middle East Navigation Aids Service
The Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS) is the leading provider of Aids to Navigation (AtoN) services in the Middle East Gulf, supporting safe and efficient maritime operations across the region. With over a century of experience, MENAS designs, delivers, and maintains critical navigation infrastructure, including buoys, lighthouses, racons, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) sites, alongside essential maritime information services such as Notices to Mariners and navigation warnings. Operating from Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, MENAS supports more than 2,000 vessels each month. As the regional operations arm of the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation, MENAS contributes to safer shipping, reduced environmental risk, and the protection of marine ecosystems through high-quality, internationally recognized navigation services.
About the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation
The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing maritime safety, protecting marine ecosystems, and strengthening global navigation capabilities. IFAN ensures safer and more efficient shipping routes while minimizing environmental risks by supporting projects focused on enhancing Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) frameworks, developing technical expertise, and providing AtoN infrastructure. Through strategic partnerships, funding, and technical expertise, IFAN plays a pivotal role in securing safe, sustainable global waterways and safeguarding the world’s ocean for future generations.