Course in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design
Online 300-hour course in counter-rotating propeller design. 6 modules covering ITTC 7.5-02-03-02.1 Open Water Test, ITTC 7.5-02-03-01.1 Propulsion/Bollard Pull Test and OpenProp. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design — studying from New Zealand
Maritime engineering is significant for New Zealand, given its extensive coastline, large exclusive economic zone and a strong sailing and boatbuilding tradition. Auckland, often called the City of Sails, hosts boatbuilders, marine service providers and offshore engineering firms, while Maritime New Zealand regulates safety at sea. Opportunities include naval architecture, offshore energy and aquaculture, and the New Zealand Defence Force's naval fleet supports further demand.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,470 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies regulate marine and offshore engineering?
Maritime New Zealand regulates maritime safety and the operation of vessels, and Engineering New Zealand is the professional body for engineers. Marine surveying and certain roles require recognised certificates issued by official bodies. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so they do not replace these requirements.
Do marine and offshore employers in New Zealand value private qualifications?
New Zealand has active marine, boatbuilding, port and offshore sectors, particularly in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. Employers usually prioritise recognised certificates, licences and practical experience. A SEIUM qualification may support an application, but whether it is valued is for each employer to decide.
Can I study this part-time from New Zealand?
Yes. The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from New Zealand. You are assigned a technical tutor and must complete a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Programme lengths range from 300 to 1,900 hours.
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
Understand the principle of rotational energy recovery.
Hydrodynamically design counter-rotating propeller pairs.
Analyse cavitation, noise and vibration caused by interaction.
Understand the mechanical systems of coaxial transmission.
Interpret trials and sea trials of these propellers.
Assess the technical and economic feasibility of the solution.
Develop the preliminary design of a counter-rotating system.
Who it's for
- Marine propeller designer looking to specialise in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design.
- Naval propulsion engineer looking to specialise in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design.
- CFD engineer looking to specialise in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design.
- Mechanical transmission engineer looking to specialise in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design.
- Shipyard project engineer looking to specialise in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design.
- Hydrodynamics researcher looking to specialise in Counter-Rotating Propeller Design.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to join propulsor manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-02.1 Open Water Test
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-01.1 Propulsion/Bollard Pull Test
- ISO 484-1 Marine propellers: manufacturing tolerances
- IACS UR M68 Dimensions of propulsion shafts and their permissible torsional vibration stresses
- DNV-RU-SHIP Pt.4 Ch.5 Rotating machinery – propulsors
- ISO 15016 Assessment of speed and power performance by analysis of speed trial data
- IMO Resolution MEPC.364(79) Calculation of attained EEDI
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Rotational losses in single propellers1.2Recovery of swirl energy in the wake1.3Coaxial counter-rotating propellers1.4Counter-rotating propeller–pod combination1.5Propulsive efficiency gains1.6Load distribution between propellers1.7History and naval applications1.8Comparison with stators and fins1.9Mechanical and cost limitations1.10Case study: efficiency gain of a ferry with CRP
2.1Lifting line theory for two rotors2.2Mutual induced velocities2.3Selection of blade number and diameters2.4Axial spacing between propellers2.5Torque sharing between rotors2.6Wake-adapted design2.7Panel methods for interaction2.8RANS simulation of counter-rotating propellers2.9Off-design behaviour2.10Practice: preliminary design of a counter-rotating pair
3.1Interaction of tip vortex with the aft propeller3.2Cavitation on the aft propeller3.3Hull pressure fluctuations3.4Combined blade passing frequencies3.5Radiated noise from counter-rotating propellers3.6Unsteady forces from interaction3.7Blade number selection against resonances3.8Applications in torpedoes and underwater vehicles3.9Cavitation tunnel testing3.10Laboratory: blade passing frequency analysis
4.1Concentric coaxial shafts4.2Counter-rotating epicyclic gearboxes4.3Stern tube seals and lubrication4.4Dual thrust bearings4.5Alignment of coaxial shafts4.6Torsional vibration of the system4.7Pod systems with counter-rotating propeller4.8Maintenance and dismantling4.9Reliability and redundancy4.10Workshop: coaxial transmission layout
5.1Open-water tests of counter-rotating propellers5.2Self-propulsion tests in towing tank5.3Scaling results to ship5.4Sea trials and power measurement5.5Comparison with conventional propellers5.6Uncertainty of measured gains5.7In-service vessel cases5.8Return on investment of the installation5.9Lessons learned from projects5.10Case study: sea trials of a vessel with CRP
6.1Vessel definition and propulsive requirements6.2Hydrodynamic design of the propeller pair6.3Numerical simulation of interaction6.4Cavitation and vibration analysis6.5Conceptual transmission design6.6Efficiency gain estimation6.7Comparison with conventional alternative6.8Economic evaluation of the solution6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with 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: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenProp, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, PROCAL, DNV Nauticus Machinery, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The studies are based on real hydrodynamic design procedures for a counter-rotating pair, RANS simulation of interaction between propellers, and analysis of sea trials with counter-rotating propellers. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the principle of rotational energy recovery.
Hydrodynamically design counter-rotating propeller pairs.
Analyse cavitation, noise and vibration caused by interaction.
Understand the mechanical systems of coaxial transmission.
Interpret trials and sea trials of these propellers.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of 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, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with OpenProp, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, PROCAL and DNV Nauticus Machinery. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An in-house SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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