CFD Course for Ship Resistance and Propulsion
Online 300-hour course in CFD applied to ship resistance and propulsion. 6 modules with ITTC 7.5-03-01-01 Uncertainty Analysis in CFD Verification and Validation, ITTC 7.5-03-02-03 Practical Guidelines for Ship CFD Applications and Simcenter STAR-CCM+. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
CFD Course for Ship Resistance and Propulsion — studying from the United States
Naval and offshore engineering in the United States is concentrated in Virginia, Maine, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Shipbuilders such as HII (Huntington Ingalls Industries) and General Dynamics Electric Boat design and construct naval vessels, while offshore energy firms develop platforms and subsea systems. The recreational marine sector, including boat builders in Florida and the Carolinas, adds demand for hull, propulsion and marine systems expertise. Classification societies and government regulators set rigorous standards for safety and performance.
Fees for the United States: US$610 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
Which US bodies relate to naval, offshore, and marine engineering?
Relevant bodies include the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), the American Bureau of Shipping as a classification society, and the US Coast Guard, which regulates vessel safety. Professional PE licensure is issued by state boards. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by any national body, so acceptance is decided by employers or these bodies.
Where do marine and offshore engineers typically work in the US?
Common employers include shipyards, naval architecture firms, offshore energy companies, marine equipment suppliers, and sports boat builders. Roles include naval architect, marine systems engineer, and offshore project engineer. Employers judge candidates on experience and technical ability, so a private qualification should be presented alongside practical evidence of skill.
Is the programme workable for someone with a full-time job?
The programmes are online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Workload ranges from 300 hours for specialist courses to 1,900 hours for master's programmes, so estimate your weekly time carefully. An assigned technical tutor supports you, and fees can be paid in instalments.
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 RANS equations and their solution by finite volumes.
Generate suitable meshes for hulls with a free surface.
Calculate ship resistance through numerical simulation.
Simulate propellers and the ship's self-propulsion point.
Verify and validate results according to ITTC procedures.
Apply parametric hull form optimisation techniques.
Predict full-scale power from CFD calculations.
Who it's for
- Naval CFD engineer wishing to specialise in CFD applied to resistance and propulsion.
- Hydrodynamics engineer wishing to specialise in CFD applied to resistance and propulsion.
- Hull form optimisation analyst wishing to specialise in CFD applied to resistance and propulsion.
- Researcher in computational hydrodynamics wishing to specialise in CFD applied to resistance and propulsion.
- Shipyard project engineer wishing to specialise in CFD applied to resistance and propulsion.
- Ship energy efficiency consultant wishing to specialise in CFD applied to resistance and propulsion.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter shipyards.
What you'll work with
- ITTC 7.5-03-01-01 Uncertainty Analysis in CFD Verification and Validation
- ITTC 7.5-03-02-03 Practical Guidelines for Ship CFD Applications
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-01.4 1978 ITTC Performance Prediction Method
- ISO 15016 Guidelines for the assessment of speed and power performance by analysis of speed trial data
- ASME V&V 20 Standard for Verification and Validation in CFD
- ITTC 7.5-02-02-01 Resistance Test
- IMO Resolution MEPC.364(79) Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained EEDI
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations1.2Finite volume method and discretisation1.3Interpolation schemes and pressure-velocity coupling1.4Free surface capture with VOF1.5k-omega SST and k-epsilon turbulence models1.6Wall laws and y+ value1.7Boundary conditions in naval domains1.8Time steps and the Courant criterion1.9Scaling and model Reynolds number1.10Practical: 2D channel with free surface
2.1Geometry preparation and CAD clean-up2.2Hexahedral, polyhedral and trimmed meshes2.3Prismatic layers for the boundary layer2.4Refinement at the free surface and wake2.5Overset meshes for motion2.6Domain size and blockage effects2.7Mesh quality: skewness and aspect ratio2.8Mesh independence studies2.9Mesh automation with scripts2.10Workshop: meshing the KCS hull
3.1Frictional resistance versus the ITTC 1957 line3.2Wave-making resistance3.3Form factor and the Prohaska method3.4Simulation with free trim and sinkage3.5Wave train analysis and surface elevation3.6Appendage and bulb resistance3.7Scale effects: model versus full-scale ship3.8Comparison with towing tank tests3.9Shallow-water simulation3.10Case study: KCS resistance at several speeds
4.1Virtual open-water test of a propeller4.2Modelling with actuator disc and body forces4.3Sliding mesh for a resolved propeller4.4Wake coefficients and thrust deduction4.5Relative rotative and propulsive efficiency4.6Self-propulsion point at model and ship scale4.7Propeller–rudder interaction4.8Hull-induced pressure fluctuations4.9Comparison between BEM and RANS methods4.10Laboratory: self-propulsion with actuator disc
5.1Numerical uncertainty according to ITTC procedures5.2Richardson extrapolation and safety factor5.3Validation with KCS, KVLCC2 and DTMB 5415 databases5.4Shape optimisation with parametric morphing5.5Surrogate models and design of experiments5.6Bow and stern bulb optimisation5.7Energy-saving devices (ESD)5.8Full-scale CFD and hull roughness5.9High-performance computing and costs5.10Case study: bow bulb optimisation
6.1Definition of the ship and calculation conditions6.2Hull geometry generation and meshing6.3Resistance simulation with free surface6.4Propeller virtual open-water test6.5Calculation of the self-propulsion point6.6Verification and numerical uncertainty estimation6.7Proposal for hydrodynamic hull form improvement6.8Full-scale power prediction6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the 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 enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, NUMECA FINE/Marine, CAESES, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for simulating ship resistance with free surface for the KCS hull, virtual self-propulsion testing with actuator disc, mesh independence study and numerical uncertainty. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the RANS equations and their solution by finite volumes.
Generate suitable meshes for hulls with a free surface.
Calculate ship resistance through numerical simulation.
Simulate propellers and the ship's self-propulsion point.
Verify and validate results according to ITTC procedures.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient 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 comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Simcenter STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, NUMECA FINE/Marine, CAESES. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma of your own upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative 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 higher programme. Check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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