Master’s in Dredging & Port Works Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in dredging and port works engineering: 12 modules covering coastal engineering, dredging technology and geotechnics, channel design, environmental management, breakwaters, quays, marine construction, modelling and contract management, with an assigned technical tutor.
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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 maritime climate and coastal dynamics.
Select dredging equipment and methods.
Design navigation channels and maintenance dredging.
Size breakwaters and quays.
Plan the construction of marine works.
Manage the environmental aspects of dredging.
Administer contracts and costs of port works.
Who it's for
- Marine works engineers designing and building port infrastructure.
- Dredging engineers planning capital and maintenance dredging.
- Port construction site managers.
- Coastal engineers working on erosion, protection and nourishment.
- Marine environmental consultants dealing with dredged material and impact assessment.
- Port authority technical staff.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join marine construction.
What you'll work with
- ROM 1.0-09 (breakwaters)
- ROM 2.0-11 (berthing and mooring structures)
- ROM 0.0-01 (general procedure and design bases)
- CEDEX guidelines (characterisation of dredged material)
- London Convention 1972 and 1996 Protocol (disposal of wastes at sea)
- Law 22/1988 on Coasts (Spanish Coastal Law)
- USACE Coastal Engineering Manual (coastal design reference)
- Directive 2011/92/EU (environmental impact assessment)
- Delft3D
- MIKE 21
- SWAN
- Plaxis 2D
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Coastal dynamics and sediment transport1.2Waves in shallow water1.3Tides and sea levels1.4Coastal and rip currents1.5Beach morphodynamics1.6Maritime climate studies1.7Numerical coastal modelling1.8Multibeam echosounder bathymetry1.9Climate change and sea-level rise1.10Practical exercise: maritime climate analysis for a project
2.1Types of dredgers2.2Trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHD)2.3Cutter suction dredgers (CSD)2.4Grab and backhoe dredgers2.5Water injection dredging2.6Dredge pumps and pipelines2.7Dredger production2.8Equipment selection by soil type2.9The world dredging fleet2.10Case study: selecting dredgers for a channel
3.1Characterisation of soils to be dredged3.2In-situ and laboratory testing3.3Soil classification for dredging3.4Rock dredging and blasting3.5Cutters and wear3.6Stability of dredged slopes3.7Consolidation of fills3.8Ground improvement3.9Liquefaction of hydraulic fills3.10Lab: classifying samples for dredging
4.1Design of navigation channels4.2Draught and under-keel clearance4.3Maintenance dredging4.4Execution and site control4.5Volume measurement4.6Over-dredging and tolerances4.7Fills and land reclamation4.8Disposal areas4.9Bathymetric monitoring of the works4.10Workshop: calculating dredging volumes
5.1Characterisation of dredged material5.2CEDEX guidelines for dredged material5.3Disposal at sea and the London Convention5.4Turbidity and plumes5.5Impact on ecosystems5.6Beneficial reuse of sediments5.7Contaminants and treatment5.8Environmental monitoring during dredging5.9Environmental impact statement5.10Case study: sediment management plan
6.1Types: rubble-mound and vertical6.2Design of rock armour layers6.3Artificial units: cubes and Accropodes6.4Hudson and Van der Meer formulae6.5Overtopping and run-up6.6Vertical breakwaters and caissons6.7Goda forces6.8Breakwater foundations6.9Historical breakwater failures6.10Practical exercise: sizing the armour of a rubble-mound breakwater
7.1Caisson quays7.2Piled quays7.3Sheet-pile quays7.4Block quays7.5Service and ship loads7.6Fenders and mooring systems7.7Pavements and superstructure7.8Durability of marine concrete7.9Seismic design of quays7.10Workshop: preliminary design of a caisson quay
8.1Caisson fabrication in a floating dock8.2Caisson towing and placement8.3Rock placement8.4Marine construction plant8.5Fills and preloading8.6Topographic and bathymetric control8.7Safety in marine works8.8Schedules and weather windows8.9Risk management8.10Case study: construction plan for a caisson breakwater
9.1Physical model testing9.2Froude similarity9.3Wave propagation models9.4Harbour agitation models9.5Sediment transport models9.6CFD modelling of overtopping9.7Calibration and validation9.8Uncertainty in models9.9Using model results in design9.10Lab: agitation study of a harbour basin
10.1Coastal erosion processes10.2Beach nourishment10.3Groynes and detached breakwaters10.4Nature-based solutions10.5Flood defence10.6Integrated coastal zone management10.7Spanish Coastal Law10.8Monitoring of interventions10.9Climate change adaptation10.10Practical exercise: designing a beach nourishment
11.1FIDIC contracts in marine works11.2Dredging contracts and payment models11.3Estimating dredging costs11.4Claims management11.5Measurement and progress certification11.6Quality in marine works11.7Insurance and risks11.8Subcontractor management11.9Acceptance of works11.10Workshop: budget for a dredging project
12.1Definition of the port works12.2Maritime climate and geotechnical studies12.3Design of the solution12.4Dredging and construction plan12.5Environmental management of the works12.6Budget and risks12.7Technical conclusions and future work12.8Review with the thesis supervisor12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Delft3D, MIKE 21, SWAN, Plaxis 2D and AutoCAD Civil 3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: sizing a breakwater, planning a deepening dredge and modelling harbour agitation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ROM 1.0-09, ROM 2.0-11, ROM 0.0-01, CEDEX guidelines for dredged material, London Convention 1972 and 1996 Protocol, Law 22/1988 on Coasts, USACE Coastal Engineering Manual and Directive 2011/92/EU.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Delft3D, MIKE 21, SWAN, Plaxis 2D and AutoCAD Civil 3D, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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