Course on Port Design in Urban Areas
Online course of 300 hours in port design in urban areas. 6 modules covering the port-city relationship, port planning, port infrastructure design, operation and access, and port sustainability, applying Royal Legislative Decree 2/2011, ROM 3.1-99 and ROM 2.0-11 with AutoCAD Civil 3D, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on Port Design in Urban Areas — studying from India
India is investing heavily in infrastructure, including highways, metros, rail modernisation and smart city programmes. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highways Authority of India and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs drive large projects, with delivery by firms such as Larsen & Toubro, Afcons and RITES. Metro rail projects in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai create steady demand for civil and systems engineers. The Bureau of Indian Standards sets construction and material codes, and the Indian Railways network is one of the largest in the world, offering wide scope for rail engineering careers.
Fees for India: ₹47,500 (Indian Rupee), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in India
Typical roles
Questions from India
Which bodies in India recognise civil and rail engineers, and what does that mean for a private qualification?
In India, civil engineers are commonly recognised through the Institution of Engineers (India), the Indian Roads Congress for roads, and state or municipal registration for some public works. Railway engineering is governed by Indian Railways and its training institutes. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
Who employs civil, rail and smart city engineers in India?
Employers include Indian Railways, RITES, RVNL, state public works departments, municipal corporations, urban development agencies under smart city missions, and large construction and consulting firms. A private online qualification can add specialist knowledge, but employers generally prioritise professional registration, site experience and project records.
Is this programme manageable with a job in India, and what level of English is needed?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need solid working English. You can study from India without a student visa. Specialist courses take around 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's about 1,900. Schedules follow IST, you get an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments. Ask your employer about sponsorship, as many organisations fund professional development.
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
Analyse the functional and urban relationship between port and city.
Plan the layout of a port in an urban area.
Design port infrastructure using the ROM Recommendations.
Integrate port access and mobility with the city.
Apply port sustainability and environmental protection criteria.
Assess the operability and safety of the facilities.
Prepare the preliminary design of a port integrated into the city.
Who it's for
- Port engineers.
- Port authority planning technicians.
- Waterfront urban planners.
- Port infrastructure consultants.
- Maritime project managers.
- Port environmental technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join port authorities.
What you'll work with
- Royal Legislative Decree 2/2011 (consolidated text of the Spanish State Ports and Merchant Navy Act)
- ROM 3.1-99 (design of the maritime configuration of ports)
- ROM 2.0-11 (design and construction of berthing and mooring works)
- ROM 0.0-01 (general procedure and design bases for maritime and port works)
- MARPOL 73/78 (prevention of pollution from ships)
- ISPS Code (security of ships and port facilities)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure)
- Law 21/2013 (environmental assessment)
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
- SMC (Coastal Modelling System)
- MIKE 21
- AnyLogic
- QGIS
6 modules
1.1Historical evolution of the port-city relationship1.2Port functions: commercial, fishing, leisure and cruise1.3The Spanish port model and port authorities1.4Port space utilisation plan1.5Urban integration of port waterfronts1.6Regeneration of port areas: Barcelona, Bilbao and Hamburg1.7Access mobility to the port1.8Urban conflicts and externalities1.9Port-city governance models1.10Case study: analysis of the port-city interface in Valencia
2.1Traffic and demand forecasting2.2Infrastructure master plans2.3Capacity of terminals and quays2.4Layout of docks and basins2.5Depths and navigation channels2.6Manoeuvrability and ROM 3.1-992.7Wave agitation and operability2.8Zoning of uses2.9Development phases2.10Practical exercise: sizing a cruise dock
3.1Gravity and piled quays3.2Floating pontoons and marinas3.3Fenders and moorings3.4Pavements for port yards3.5Yards and reclamations3.6Breakwaters in an urban setting3.7Dredging and material management3.8Port utility networks3.9Passenger maritime stations3.10Workshop: design of a marginal quay
4.1Road and rail access4.2Integration with public transport4.3Cruise terminals and passenger flows4.4Urban port logistics4.5Port community systems4.6Security and protection: ISPS Code4.7Internal emergency plan4.8Smart ports and digitalisation4.9Energy in the port: onshore power supply (OPS)4.10Lab: simulation of passenger flows
5.1Air quality in urban ports5.2Noise and light pollution5.3Water and sediment quality5.4Ship waste management (MARPOL)5.5Energy efficiency and renewables5.6Environmental management systems: PERS and EMAS5.7Adaptation to climate change5.8Public spaces and public uses5.9Communication with the community5.10Case study: quay electrification plan
6.1Analysis of the city and the existing port6.2Demand and uses study6.3Definition of the layout6.4Design of the main infrastructure6.5Access and mobility6.6Urban integration and public space6.7Environmental assessment of the proposal6.8Budget and construction phases6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is AutoCAD Civil 3D, SMC (Coastal Modelling System), MIKE 21, AnyLogic and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for sizing docks and channels, planning urban port waterfronts and planning port access and mobility. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Royal Legislative Decree 2/2011, ROM 3.1-99, ROM 2.0-11, ROM 0.0-01, MARPOL 73/78, ISPS Code, Regulation (EU) 2023/1804, Law 21/2013.
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
- No prior qualification 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with AutoCAD Civil 3D, SMC (Coastal Modelling System), MIKE 21, AnyLogic and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme 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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