Diploma in Onboard Energy and Battery Management
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in onboard energy and battery management. 8 modules covering onboard energy balance, marine battery technologies, battery management and monitoring, generation sources, marine electrical installation and electric and hybrid propulsion, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Onboard Energy and Battery Management — 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$2,550 (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
Calculate energy balances for boats.
Select marine battery technologies.
Configure battery management and monitoring systems.
Integrate renewable and conventional generation sources.
Design electrical installations to marine standards.
Size electric and hybrid propulsion.
Maintain energy systems safely.
Who it's for
- Marine electricians.
- Marine energy systems technicians.
- Lithium battery installers.
- Marine electric propulsion engineers.
- Yacht maintenance technicians.
- Technical advisers to boat owners.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the leisure boating industry.
What you'll work with
- ISO 13297 (small craft electrical systems: AC installations)
- ISO 10133 (small craft electrical systems: extra-low-voltage DC installations)
- ABYC E-11 (AC and DC electrical systems on boats)
- ABYC E-13 (lithium-ion batteries on boats)
- ISO 16315 (small craft electric propulsion systems)
- IEC 62619 (safety requirements for industrial lithium batteries)
- Directive 2013/53/EU (EU Recreational Craft Directive)
- Victron VictronConnect
- Victron VRM Portal
- PVsyst
- AutoCAD Electrical
8 modules
1.1Typical consumers on boats1.2Consumption profiles under way and at anchor1.3Critical and non-critical loads1.4Calculating the daily balance1.5Sizing the battery bank1.612, 24 and 48 V systems1.7AC systems1.8Equipment efficiency1.9Margin and future growth1.10Case study: energy balance of a cruising yacht
2.1Lead-acid and AGM batteries2.2Gel batteries2.3LiFePO4 lithium batteries2.4Comparing cycle life2.5Usable depth of discharge2.6Low-temperature behaviour2.7Weight and volume on board2.8Starter and house batteries2.9Life-cycle cost2.10Lab: battery capacity testing
3.1BMS systems for lithium3.2Shunt-based battery monitors3.3State of charge and state of health3.4Over-discharge protection3.5Cell balancing3.6Alarms and disconnections3.7Integration into NMEA 2000 networks3.8Remote system monitoring3.9Data logging3.10Practical exercise: configuring a lithium BMS
4.1Alternators and external regulators4.2Solar panels and MPPT controllers4.3Small marine wind generators4.4Hydrogenerators under way4.5Back-up diesel generators4.6Shore chargers4.7Methanol fuel cells4.8Balancing sources4.9Equipment location4.10Case study: sizing a solar system
5.1ISO 13297 and ISO 101335.2Cable sizing and voltage drop5.3Fuses and protection5.4Battery isolators5.5Earthing and galvanic protection5.6Combined inverter-chargers5.7Distribution panels5.8Wiring good practice5.9Inspecting installations5.10Workshop: wiring diagram of a sailing yacht
6.1Electric outboard motors6.2Electric inboard motors6.3Diesel-electric hybrid systems6.4Regeneration under sail6.5Range and speed6.6Sizing the propulsion system6.7Integration with the battery bank6.8High-voltage safety on boats6.9Commercial electric propulsion cases6.10Practical exercise: sizing electric propulsion
7.1Battery fire risks7.2Compartment ventilation7.3Safe battery location7.4Maintaining lead-acid batteries7.5Maintaining lithium batteries7.6Corrosion and connections7.7Diagnosing electrical faults7.8Insurance requirements7.9Owner training7.10Case study: diagnosing an electrical fault
8.1Selecting the boat8.2Consumption balance8.3Choosing the batteries8.4Generation sources8.5Single-line wiring diagram8.6Management system8.7Installation budget8.8Project conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on SEIUM's campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Victron VictronConnect, Victron VRM Portal, PVsyst and AutoCAD Electrical, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied, including boat energy balances, configuring lithium systems with BMS and sizing onboard solar and wind generation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: ISO 13297, ISO 10133, ABYC E-11, ABYC E-13, ISO 16315, IEC 62619, Directive 2013/53/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
- 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 Victron VictronConnect, Victron VRM Portal, PVsyst and AutoCAD Electrical, 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), 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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