Postgraduate Diploma in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity. 8 modules covering ISO 15544 (emergency response on offshore installations), ISO 13702 (offshore fire and explosion control and mitigation) and DNV Phast. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity — 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: £746 (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
Identify major hazards on offshore installations.
Develop emergency plans in accordance with ISO 15544.
Analyse escape, evacuation and rescue strategy.
Apply principles of survival and medical assistance at sea.
Design operational continuity plans following an emergency.
Organise exercises and assess personnel competence.
Investigate incidents and implement improvement actions.
Who it's for
- Offshore emergency coordinator who wants to specialise in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity.
- Technical safety engineer who wants to specialise in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity.
- Offshore HSE manager who wants to specialise in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity.
- Marine survival trainer who wants to specialise in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity.
- Operational continuity manager who wants to specialise in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity.
- Incident investigator who wants to specialise in Emergencies, Rescue and Operational Continuity.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the offshore oil & gas sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 15544 (emergency response on offshore installations)
- ISO 13702 (offshore fire and explosion control and mitigation)
- Directive 2013/30/EU (safety of offshore oil and gas operations)
- MODU Code
- LSA Code (life-saving appliances)
- OPITO standards (BOSIET/FOET)
- ISO 22301 (business continuity)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Major hazards on marine installations1.2Directive 2013/30/EU on offshore safety1.3Major hazard report1.4Scenarios: fire, explosion, collision and sinking1.5Quantitative risk assessment (QRA)1.6Safety barriers and the bow-tie model1.7Escape and evacuation analysis (EERA)1.8Safety critical elements1.9Lessons from Piper Alpha and Deepwater Horizon1.10Practical case: bow-tie for a fire scenario
2.1Emergency response plan2.2Emergency organisation and roles2.3Command post and crisis room2.4Communication with the onshore centre2.5Alert levels and activation2.6Oil spill response plans (OPRC)2.7Coordination with SAR and authorities2.8Bridge and anchoring plans2.9Plans for offshore wind farms2.10Workshop: structure of the emergency response plan
3.1Evacuation hierarchy: escape, evacuation and rescue3.2Temporary refuge and its integrity3.3Escape routes and signage3.4Lifeboats and liferafts3.5Marine evacuation systems (MES)3.6Rescue boats and FRC3.7Standby support vessels (ERRV)3.8Rescue from wind turbines3.9Helicopter rescue3.10Practice: evacuation time analysis
4.1BOSIET, FOET and GWO training4.2Hypothermia and cold-water survival4.3Personal protective equipment and immersion suits4.4Emergency breathing devices4.5First aid in remote environments4.6Telemedicine and medical evacuation4.7Management of multiple casualties4.8Psychological support after incidents4.9Medical fitness of personnel4.10Practical case: medical evacuation from a platform
5.1Business continuity for offshore assets5.2Impact analysis of disruptions5.3Redundancy of critical systems5.4Supply and logistics management5.5Cyber incidents in control systems5.6Extreme weather events5.7Safe shutdown and restart5.8Insurance and loss management5.9Coordination with clients and networks5.10Workshop: continuity plan for a storm
6.1Offshore exercise programme6.2Abandonment drills6.3Command exercises in the crisis room6.4Emergency control simulators6.5Assessment of command competencies (OPITO)6.6Observers and metrics6.7Lessons learned6.8Contractor integration6.9Audit of the emergency system6.10Practice: emergency command exercise scenario
7.1Incident investigation7.2Methodologies: TapRooT and causal analysis7.3Leading and lagging indicators7.4Notification to authorities7.5Management of recommendations7.6Just culture and reporting7.7Management of change7.8Management review7.9Sector benchmarking7.10Practical case: investigation of a near miss
8.1Description of the installation8.2Scenario analysis8.3Emergency organisation8.4Evacuation and rescue plan8.5Resources and equipment8.6Continuity plan8.7Exercise programme8.8Indicators and review8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is DNV Phast, Pathfinder (evacuation), BowTieXP, Microsoft Excel advanced, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real evacuation and abandonment drill procedures, escape, evacuation and rescue (EER) analysis, and incident investigation using causal methods. 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.
Identify major hazards on offshore installations.
Develop emergency plans in accordance with ISO 15544.
Analyse the escape, evacuation and rescue strategy.
Apply principles of survival and medical assistance at sea.
Design operational continuity plans following an emergency.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient English to follow technical regulatory reading.
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 spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with DNV Phast, Pathfinder (evacuation), BowTieXP and Microsoft Excel advanced. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own SEIUM diploma upon passing 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 towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when enrolling.
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