Course in Ship Manoeuvrability in Restricted Ports
Online 300 h course in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports. 6 modules with IMO Resolution MSC.137(76) Standards for Ship Manoeuvrability, PIANC Report nº 121 Harbour Approaches Channels Design Guidelines and Wärtsilä Navi-Trainer Professional 5000. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ship Manoeuvrability in Restricted Ports — studying from the United Kingdom
Naval and offshore engineering is a significant sector in the United Kingdom, with shipbuilding and naval programmes on the Clyde, in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness and Rosyth, and offshore energy activity in Aberdeen and the North Sea. Companies such as BAE Systems Maritime, Babcock and offshore service providers employ engineers in design, construction and maintenance. Sports nautical engineering, including yacht design and marine leisure, is concentrated in the Solent and South Coast. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency regulates shipping safety, and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects supports professional standards.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £455 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK bodies relate to naval and marine engineering, and does SEIUM training count towards them?
Key UK bodies include the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Maritime qualifications are often regulated through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for certificates of competency. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so any recognition would be decided by them separately.
Will UK offshore, naval or marine employers value a private online engineering qualification?
Employers in these sectors often prioritise certified competencies, sea-going experience and regulatory certificates. A private qualification may support your application where it shows relevant technical depth, but it does not replace statutory requirements. Acceptance is for each employer to decide, so consider how the qualification complements your existing certifications.
Can I study this online from the UK alongside offshore rotations, and is language support available?
Online study can be flexible, but rotation patterns make scheduling important, so plan around your time at sea or on site. Programmes are taught entirely in English, and each learner is assigned a technical tutor. No visa is required to study from within the UK. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible.
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 hydrodynamic effects of shallow and confined waters on the ship.
Calculate squat and under keel clearance in access channels.
Apply mathematical manoeuvrability models to real cases.
Select steering and auxiliary thrust means for operating in port.
Plan tug assistance according to the ship and the port.
Design nautical access in line with PIANC and ROM guidelines.
Evaluate manoeuvres through simulation and risk analysis.
Who it's for
- Harbour pilot wishing to specialise in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports.
- Port and coastal engineer wishing to specialise in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports.
- Merchant navy captain wishing to specialise in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports.
- Nautical access consultant wishing to specialise in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports.
- Navigation simulator instructor wishing to specialise in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports.
- Maritime safety inspector wishing to specialise in ship manoeuvrability in restricted ports.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to join port authorities.
What you'll work with
- IMO Resolution MSC.137(76) Standards for Ship Manoeuvrability
- PIANC Report nº 121 Harbour Approaches Channels Design Guidelines
- ROM 3.1-99 Design of the maritime configuration of ports
- IMO MSC/Circ.1053 Explanatory Notes to the Standards for Ship Manoeuvrability
- SOLAS Convention, Chapter V Safety of Navigation
- COLREG 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
- IMO Resolution A.960(23) Training and certification of pilots
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Effect of shallow water on resistance1.2Squat: Barrass, Huuska and ICORELS formulations1.3Bank effect and lateral suction forces1.4Ship-to-ship interaction in narrow passages1.5Block coefficient in restricted channels1.6Calculation of under keel clearance (UKC)1.7Influence of dynamic trim on manoeuvring1.8Tidal currents in basins and entrances1.9Wind forces on the windage area1.10Case study: squat of a bulk carrier in a dredged channel
2.1Equations of motion in the horizontal plane2.2Linear and non-linear hydrodynamic derivatives2.3Modular MMG model: hull, propeller and rudder2.4Abkowitz model and its limitations2.5Turning and zigzag tests according to IMO2.6Stopping and crash-stop manoeuvres2.7Course stability and spiral test2.8Parameter identification from trials2.9Correction of models for shallow water2.10Practice: simulating an evolution curve
3.1Conventional rudders, Becker and Schilling3.2Transverse bow and stern thrusters3.3Azimuth thrusters and pods in manoeuvring3.4Controllable-pitch propeller at low speed3.5Loss of effectiveness of transverse thrusters with headway3.6Propeller walk effect during berthing3.7Rudder and propeller combination in turning3.8Propulsion failure and contingency plans3.9Manoeuvres with support anchor3.10Workshop: sizing a bow transverse thruster
4.1ASD, tractor and conventional tugs4.2Bollard pull and sizing criteria4.3Push and pull assistance4.4Escort towage and indirect forces4.5Communication between pilot, tug and bridge4.6Girting and tug capsize risk4.7Estimating the number of tugs required4.8Manoeuvres of large container ships and LNG carriers4.9Hydrodynamic interaction between tug and assisted ship4.10Case study: towage plan for an LNG carrier
5.1Real-time bridge simulators5.2Fast-time simulation5.3Channel width and margins according to PIANC5.4Manoeuvring basins and turning circles5.5Tidal windows and operational limit conditions5.6Grounding and collision risk analysis5.7Scenario validation with port pilots5.8Acceptance criteria for simulated manoeuvres5.9Navigational aids and buoyage5.10Laboratory: accessibility study of a port
6.1Definition of the design ship and the port6.2Metocean data, bathymetry and obstacles6.3Calculation of squat and transit clearance6.4Selection of tugs and auxiliary means6.5Simulation of entry, turning and berthing6.6Risk assessment and limit conditions6.7Operating procedures for pilotage6.8Dredging and buoyage recommendations6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The software used is Wärtsilä Navi-Trainer Professional 5000, Kongsberg K-Sim Navigation, SHIPMA, MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real procedures: simulating berthing manoeuvres on a bridge simulator, estimating squat in dredged access channels and planning towage at LNG terminals. Assessment is continuous by 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 hydrodynamic effects of shallow and confined waters on the ship.
Calculate squat and under keel clearance in access channels.
Apply mathematical manoeuvrability models to real cases.
Select steering and auxiliary thrust means for operating in port.
Plan tug assistance according to the ship and the port.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulations.
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 Wärtsilä Navi-Trainer Professional 5000, Kongsberg K-Sim Navigation, SHIPMA, MATLAB/Simulink. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM's own 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 are recognised in the advanced programme. Consult the recognition policy when you enrol.
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