The CMI invites submissions for the 2025 Young Persons’ Essay Prize for original unpublished writing in the field of maritime law.
Topic for 2025 Essay:
- The CMI Assembly has again decided not to prescribe a topic for the 2025 competition in order to accommodate any essay of current relevance to maritime law. Entrants are however encouraged to visit the CMI website’s pages on work in progress – which may assist in choosing a suitable topic, as preference may be given in the adjudication process to essays covering topics currently under review by the CMI.
Eligibility Candidates should be:
- 35 or younger on the closing date for entries (31 March 2025); and
- A member of a CMI-member Maritime Law Association; or
- If not such an MLA member, a person actively engaged in the practice, study or research of maritime law as prescribed in the Prize Rules. This status should be confirmed by a letter from a non-CMI member MLA, university, research institute, law firm or other employer. The letter should accompany the script.
Deadline for Submission:
- Submissions must be received by the CMI Secretariat by 31 March 2025.
Length of Essay:
- Max 6000 words (including footnotes, but excluding table of contents).
How & Where to submit:
Anonymous Code:
- Candidates wishing to submit an essay shall apply to the CMI Secretary-General rosaliebalkin1@gmail.com for an anonymous submission code. Please cc admin-antwerp@comitemaritime.org
- Each essay must then be submitted in electronic format anonymously, making use of the code provided. Any author who mentions his/her name in the essay shall be disqualified.
Full Rules & Criteria:
Prize:
- An invitation to attend the next CMI international event, in Rio de Janeiro in mid-2026, including travel from your home city (if travelling by air, economy travel), accommodation in Rio, CMI conference registration fee and a modest spending allowance. The winner will be invited there to present a precis of his/her winning essay to the CMI’s gathering of the world’s leading maritime lawyers. The prize-winning essay will also be published on the CMI website.
This is the maritime world’s most prestigious prize for original writing.
Please note that the Prize Rules lay down strict requirements for timing, supporting documentation, structure, citation and format of entries. All requirements must be met by the closing date for a submission to be considered.
For further information contact Evelien Peeters admin-antwerp@comitemaritime.org or rosaliebalkin1@gmail.com
