2027 Challenge
Discover the Unknown: Building Understanding Where Information Is Incomplete.
This season’s missions take place in a working marina in an island harbor. Teams
use their SeaPerch ROV to maintain the marina, survey the environment, clear debris, rescue
marine life and manage invasive species, often with only part of the information they need. Just
like real engineers, teams test, learn and adapt as they go.
2027 Challenge at a Glance
Registration closes
10 Jan 2027
Package (registration + kit)
$530
Regional final
4–6 Feb 2027
Sharjah Maritime Academy, UAE
International Challenge
5–6 Jun 2027
University of Maryland, USA
Key Dates
Everything your team needs to know, from registration to the final.
| What | When | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | 19 October 2026 | Teams can start registering. |
| Online orientation | 10 December 2026 | Online session for registered teams. |
| Free online coach training day | 15 December 2026 | Free and online. Also the last day for a full registration refund (see refunds). |
| Registration closes | 10 January 2027 | Last day to register. Also the last day for a 50% registration refund. |
| All submissions due | 25 January 2027 | See the list of submissions below. |
| Regional final | 4 to 6 February 2027 | Sharjah Maritime Academy, UAE. |
| International SeaPerch Challenge | 5 and 6 June 2027 | University of Maryland, College Park, USA. For qualifying teams. |
What to submit by 25 January 2027
| Submission | Status |
|---|---|
| Technical Design Report | Required |
| System Overview Sheet | Required |
| Poster | Optional |
| Engineering in Action | Optional |
Fees per Team
| Item | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | $300 | Team registration fee. |
| SeaPerch kit | $280 | One kit per team. |
| Package Best value | $530 | Registration + kit together (saves $50 compared with buying them separately). |
| Shipping | Free in the UAE | $55 per kit outside the UAE. |
| School Package 5 teams or more | Ask us | Special terms for 3 or more teams, government schools and partner hubs. |
Payment
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Card online | Pay directly when you register. |
| Bank transfer (invoice) | Email info@seaperchwestasia.org before you register to get an invoice. Payable within 14 days. |
Good to know: a team is confirmed only when payment is received.
Discounts
Watch our offer codes on our digital challenges during the season.
| Offer code | Valid until |
|---|---|
| EARLY27 | 31 October 2026 |
Rules: each team can use one discount only. If more than one discount code applies, the bigger one is applied automatically.
If Your Team Cancels
| When the team cancels | Registration fee | Kit |
|---|---|---|
| By 15 December 2026 | Full refund minus payment fees | Full refund if not shipped |
| 16 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 | 50% refund | Full refund if not shipped |
| After 10 January 2027 | No refund | No refund once shipped |
Full refund rules: see the Rules and Refund Policy page.
International SeaPerch Challenge
Top teams can qualify for the International SeaPerch Challenge, 5 and 6 June 2027 at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
Qualified teams
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration ends | 7 April 2027 |
| Travel and hotel | Paid by the team. |
International fees
| Item | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Per team | $550 | Includes the first two adults. |
| Per student | $100 | For each student traveling with the team. |
| Per extra adult | $100 | For each adult after the first two. |
Example: a team with 4 students and 3 adults pays $550 (team, includes 2 adults) + $400 (4 students) + $100 (1 extra adult) = $1,050, plus their own travel and hotel.
2027 Challenge at a Glance
Registration closes
10 Jan 2027
Package (registration + kit)
$530
Regional final
4–6 Feb 2027
Sharjah Maritime Academy, UAE
International Challenge
5–6 Jun 2027
University of Maryland, USA
Key Dates
Everything your team needs to know, from registration to the final.
| What | When | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | 19 October 2026 | Teams can start registering. |
| Online orientation | 10 December 2026 | Online session for registered teams. |
| Free online coach training day | 15 December 2026 | Free and online. Also the last day for a full registration refund (see refunds). |
| Registration closes | 10 January 2027 | Last day to register. Also the last day for a 50% registration refund. |
| All submissions due | 25 January 2027 | See the list of submissions below. |
| Regional final | 4 to 6 February 2027 | Sharjah Maritime Academy, UAE. |
| International SeaPerch Challenge | 5 and 6 June 2027 | University of Maryland, College Park, USA. For qualifying teams. |
What to submit by 25 January 2027
| Submission | Status |
|---|---|
| Technical Design Report | Required |
| System Overview Sheet | Required |
| Poster | Optional |
| Engineering in Action | Optional |
Fees per Team
| Item | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | $300 | Team registration fee. |
| SeaPerch kit | $280 | One kit per team. |
| Package Best value | $530 | Registration + kit together (saves $50 compared with buying them separately). |
| Shipping | Free in the UAE | $55 per kit outside the UAE. |
| School Package 5 teams or more | Ask us | Special terms for 3 or more teams, government schools and partner hubs. |
Payment
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Card online | Pay directly when you register. |
| Bank transfer (invoice) | Email info@seaperchwestasia.org before you register to get an invoice. Payable within 14 days. |
Good to know: a team is confirmed only when payment is received.
Discounts
Watch our offer codes on our digital challenges during the season.
| Offer code | Valid until |
|---|---|
| EARLY27 | 31 October 2026 |
Rules: each team can use one discount only. If more than one discount code applies, the bigger one is applied automatically.
If Your Team Cancels
| When the team cancels | Registration fee | Kit |
|---|---|---|
| By 15 December 2026 | Full refund minus payment fees | Full refund if not shipped |
| 16 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 | 50% refund | Full refund if not shipped |
| After 10 January 2027 | No refund | No refund once shipped |
Full refund rules: see the Rules and Refund Policy page.
International SeaPerch Challenge
Top teams can qualify for the International SeaPerch Challenge, 5 and 6 June 2027 at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
Qualified teams
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration ends | 7 April 2027 |
| Travel and hotel | Paid by the team. |
International fees
| Item | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Per team | $550 | Includes the first two adults. |
| Per student | $100 | For each student traveling with the team. |
| Per extra adult | $100 | For each adult after the first two. |
Example: a team with 4 students and 3 adults pays $550 (team, includes 2 adults) + $400 (4 students) + $100 (1 extra adult) = $1,050, plus their own travel and hotel.
(Required)
Objective: Show how well your ROV performs.
Submission: Nothing to send before the event. Teams run the courses on-site at the regional final, 4 to 6 February 2027.
Obstacle Course: tests speed and control. Up to 2 runs, 4 minutes each. The ROV passes through 5 hoops, out and back. The faster time counts.
Mission Course: 1 run of 8 minutes. Complete tasks about the season theme: maintain the marina, survey the environment, clear debris, rescue marine life and manage invasive species. Full task details: coming soon.
Points: Mission Course 120, Obstacle Course 30.
Objective: Show how well your ROV performs.
Submission: Nothing to send before the event. Teams run the courses on-site at the regional final, 4 to 6 February 2027.
Obstacle Course: tests speed and control. Up to 2 runs, 4 minutes each. The ROV passes through 5 hoops, out and back. The faster time counts.
Mission Course: 1 run of 8 minutes. Complete tasks about the season theme: maintain the marina, survey the environment, clear debris, rescue marine life and manage invasive species. Full task details: coming soon.
Points: Mission Course 120, Obstacle Course 30.
(Required)
Objective: Explain how your team designed, built and tested your ROV.
Submission: PDF report, due 25 January 2027.
Overview: Up to 5 pages (Acknowledgments, References, Budget and AI Acknowledgment do not count in the 5 pages). Font: Times New Roman, size 12, single spaced, margins at least 0.8 inch. Team name and page number on every page. Write in Arabic or English.
Points: 40.
Objective: Explain how your team designed, built and tested your ROV.
Submission: PDF report, due 25 January 2027.
Overview: Up to 5 pages (Acknowledgments, References, Budget and AI Acknowledgment do not count in the 5 pages). Font: Times New Roman, size 12, single spaced, margins at least 0.8 inch. Team name and page number on every page. Write in Arabic or English.
Points: 40.
(Required)
Objective: Show your team and your ROV on one page.
Submission: One page, using the template, sent as PDF, due 25 January 2027.
Overview: Team and mission profile, ROV profile (name, photo, size, weight, cost), what your ROV can do, and proof it is ready. This replaces the old "Meet the Team" submission.
Points: 10.
Objective: Show your team and your ROV on one page.
Submission: One page, using the template, sent as PDF, due 25 January 2027.
Overview: Team and mission profile, ROV profile (name, photo, size, weight, cost), what your ROV can do, and proof it is ready. This replaces the old "Meet the Team" submission.
Points: 10.
(Required)
Objective: Show your design work on a poster.
Submission: Digital copy due 25 January 2027. Bring the printed poster to the regional final.
Overview: Maximum size 36 x 48 inches (about 91 x 122 cm), free-standing. Show your mission, your design, your tests and what you learned. This replaces the old "Idea Poster".
Points: 20.
Objective: Show your design work on a poster.
Submission: Digital copy due 25 January 2027. Bring the printed poster to the regional final.
Overview: Maximum size 36 x 48 inches (about 91 x 122 cm), free-standing. Show your mission, your design, your tests and what you learned. This replaces the old "Idea Poster".
Points: 20.
(Required, all classes)
Objective: Present your work to the judges.
Submission: On-site at the regional final.
Overview: 5 minutes to present, then 5 minutes of questions from the judges (10 minutes in total). Teams may use any software or hardware to help them present. Present in Arabic or English, with no extra points for either.
Points: 80.
Objective: Present your work to the judges.
Submission: On-site at the regional final.
Overview: 5 minutes to present, then 5 minutes of questions from the judges (10 minutes in total). Teams may use any software or hardware to help them present. Present in Arabic or English, with no extra points for either.
Points: 80.
(Optional)
Objective: Share SeaPerch with your community.
Submission: One PDF, up to 4 pages, due 25 January 2027.
Overview: Tell us how your team took SeaPerch to people around you: sessions, workshops, school or community activities. Show what you did, who you reached and what you learned, with photos.
Points: not part of the total score. Reviewed for a special award.
Objective: Share SeaPerch with your community.
Submission: One PDF, up to 4 pages, due 25 January 2027.
Overview: Tell us how your team took SeaPerch to people around you: sessions, workshops, school or community activities. Show what you did, who you reached and what you learned, with photos.
Points: not part of the total score. Reviewed for a special award.
Teams are ranked within their class (Middle School, High School, Open). Total: 300 points.
| Part | Points |
|---|---|
| Mission Course | 120 |
| Technical Interview | 80 |
| Technical Design Report | 40 |
| Obstacle Course | 30 |
| Poster (Technical Design Display) | 20 |
| System Overview Sheet | 10 |
| Total | 300 |
| Engineering in Action (optional) | Special award, not in the total |
If teams are tied in total points: the team with more Mission Course points ranks higher. If still tied, the team with more Technical Interview points ranks higher.
"Photos will be added after the regional final."
"Results will be added after the regional final."