Diploma in Submerged Propulsion Systems Safety
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Submerged Propulsion Systems Safety. 8 modules covering submerged propulsion hazards, risk analysis, battery safety (IEC 62619), hydrogen, oxygen and fuels (IEC 60079, ISO/TR 15916), protection systems, functional safety and the safety case and emergencies, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Submerged Propulsion Systems Safety — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €895 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the specific hazards of submerged propulsion systems.
Apply risk analysis techniques to propulsion plants.
Assess the safety of high-energy batteries in confined spaces.
Manage the risks of hydrogen, oxygen and other fluids.
Design detection, ventilation and protection systems.
Apply functional safety to plant control systems.
Prepare safety cases and emergency plans.
Who it's for
- Naval systems safety engineers.
- Submarine propulsion engineers.
- Hydrogen safety specialists.
- Battery engineers.
- Functional safety engineers.
- Classification society surveyors.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter naval defence.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62619 (safety of industrial lithium batteries)
- IEC 60079 (explosive atmospheres)
- ISO/TR 15916 (basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems)
- IEC 62282-3-100 (safety of stationary fuel cell power systems)
- MIL-STD-882E (system safety)
- IEC 61508 (functional safety)
- Lloyd's Register Rules for Naval Submarines
- NFPA 55 (compressed gases and cryogenic fluids)
- PHAST (DNV)
- FLACS
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Isograph Reliability Workbench
8 modules
1.1The confined atmosphere of a submarine1.2High-power electrical hazards1.3Thermal hazards1.4Toxic and flammable gases1.5High-concentration oxygen1.6Pressure and hydraulics1.7Fires on board1.8Lessons from historical accidents1.9Regulatory framework1.10Case study: analysis of a historical accident
2.1Hazard identification2.2HAZOP2.3System FMEA2.4Fault trees2.5Layer of protection analysis2.6Risk acceptance criteria2.7Hazard log2.8Quantitative analysis2.9System safety to MIL-STD-882E2.10Lab: HAZOP of a hydrogen storage system
3.1Lead-acid and lithium battery chemistry3.2Thermal runaway3.3Cell-to-cell propagation3.4Thermal management3.5Battery management systems3.6IEC 62619 requirements3.7Abuse testing3.8Early fault detection3.9Extinguishing and containment3.10Practical exercise: thermal risk assessment of a module
4.1Properties of hydrogen4.2Metal hydride storage4.3Leaks and detection4.4Ignition and deflagration4.5Liquid oxygen4.6Materials compatibility4.7Fuels and vapours4.8Explosive atmospheres (IEC 60079)4.9The ISO/TR 15916 guide4.10Lab: gas dispersion in a compartment
5.1Gas detection5.2Ventilation and atmosphere purification5.3Fire detection and suppression5.4Compartment isolation5.5Electrical protection5.6Safety and relief valves5.7Emergency shutdown systems5.8Redundancy5.9Maintenance of protection systems5.10Case study: design of detection and ventilation
6.1IEC 61508 applied to the plant6.2Safety instrumented functions6.3SIL levels6.4Safe control software6.5Operator interfaces6.6Alarm management6.7Plant cybersecurity6.8Verification and validation6.9Proof testing6.10Practical exercise: SIL allocation to safety functions
7.1Plant safety case7.2Classification requirements7.3Safe operating procedures7.4Crew training7.5Emergency plans7.6Damage control exercises7.7Incident investigation7.8Change management7.9Lessons learned7.10Workshop: response plan for a hydrogen leak
8.1Plant description8.2Plant hazard identification8.3Risk analysis8.4Protection measures8.5Functional safety8.6Emergency plan8.7Safety case8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PHAST (DNV), FLACS, MATLAB/Simulink and Isograph Reliability Workbench, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: a HAZOP of a hydrogen storage system, modelling gas dispersion in a compartment and assessing battery thermal risk. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: IEC 62619, IEC 60079, ISO/TR 15916, IEC 62282-3-100, MIL-STD-882E, IEC 61508, Lloyd's Register Rules for Naval Submarines, NFPA 55.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with PHAST (DNV), FLACS, MATLAB/Simulink and Isograph Reliability Workbench, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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