Remote Control of Autonomous Ships Course
Online 300-hour course in remote control of autonomous ships. 6 modules with COLREG 1972, SOLAS Chapter V and MATLAB and Simulink. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Remote Control of Autonomous Ships Course — 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: £619 (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 levels of autonomy and the concept of MASS vessels.
Analyse on-board perception and sensor fusion systems.
Apply control and collision avoidance techniques in accordance with COLREG.
Design a remote control centre with ergonomic and redundancy criteria.
Assess risks and cybersecurity of remote operation.
Plan verification and validation testing of autonomous functions.
Develop a remote operation concept for a real vessel.
Who it's for
- Remote control centre operator wishing to specialise in Remote Control of Autonomous Ships.
- Autonomous systems engineer wishing to specialise in Remote Control of Autonomous Ships.
- Marine perception specialist wishing to specialise in Remote Control of Autonomous Ships.
- Functional safety analyst wishing to specialise in Remote Control of Autonomous Ships.
- Ship control engineer wishing to specialise in Remote Control of Autonomous Ships.
- Maritime innovation consultant wishing to specialise in Remote Control of Autonomous Ships.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter short-sea shipping companies.
What you'll work with
- COLREG 1972
- SINGLE CHAPTER V
- IMO MSC.1/Circ.1604 on MASS Tests
- IACS UR E26
- IACS UR E27
- DNV-CG-0264 Autonomous and Remotely Operated Ships
- ISO 23860
- IEC 62065
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Definition of an autonomous surface vessel1.2IMO's four degrees of autonomy1.3Crewed, remote and autonomous operation1.4Architecture of a remotely controlled vessel1.5Reference projects: Yara Birkeland and others1.6Remote control centre (ROC)1.7Human-machine function allocation1.8Operational scenarios and ODD1.9Current technological limitations1.10Case study: analysis of a pilot project
2.1Radar, AIS and optical sensors2.2Infrared cameras and marine LiDAR2.3Sensor fusion and target tracking2.4Object detection with computer vision2.5Collision risk estimation2.6Representation of the environment at the ROC2.7Sensor degradation in poor visibility2.8GNSS positioning integrity2.9Backup against GNSS spoofing2.10Laboratory: radar and AIS data fusion
3.1Manoeuvrability models3.2Autopilot and track keeping3.3Dynamic positioning control3.4Collision avoidance in accordance with COLREG3.5Harbour path planning3.6Automatic berthing manoeuvres3.7Minimum-risk states3.8Transition between control modes3.9Simulator and scale-model testing3.10Practice: trajectory guidance in simulator
4.1Satellite, 4G/5G and radio links4.2Latency and availability requirements4.3Link redundancy4.4Ergonomic design of the control station4.5Operator workload and fatigue4.6Management of multiple vessels per operator4.7Control handover procedures4.8Interface with VTS and authorities4.9Recording and traceability of decisions4.10Workshop: designing a remote control station
5.1Goal-based risk assessment5.2HAZID and STPA analysis5.3DNV class requirements for autonomy5.4Cybersecurity according to IACS UR E26 and E275.5Loss-of-communications management5.6Emergency response without crew5.7Verification and validation testing5.8Human factors in supervision5.9Insurance and liability5.10Case study: STPA analysis of a link loss
6.1Vessel and route definition6.2Concept of operations and ODD6.3Sensor and control architecture6.4Redundant communications design6.5Control centre organisation6.6Risk analysis of the concept6.7Test and validation plan6.8Approval roadmap6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100 % online on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB and Simulink, ROS 2, Kongsberg K-Sim, Python with OpenCV, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied using real guidance procedures for an autonomous vessel in simulator, risk analysis of communication loss, and design of a remote control centre. 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 levels of autonomy and the concept of MASS vessels.
Analyse on-board perception and sensor fusion systems.
Apply control and collision avoidance techniques in accordance with COLREG.
Design a remote control centre with ergonomic and redundancy criteria.
Assess risks and cybersecurity of remote operation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish 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 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That averages between 10 and 15 hours a week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with MATLAB and Simulink, ROS 2, Kongsberg K-Sim, Python with OpenCV. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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