Marine Propeller Cavitation Course
Online 300-hour course on marine propeller cavitation. 6 modules covering ITTC 7.5-02-03-03.1 Model-Scale Cavitation Test, ITTC 7.5-02-03-03.3 Cavitation Induced Pressure Fluctuations Model Scale Experiments and Simcenter STAR-CCM+. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Marine Propeller Cavitation Course — 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$500 (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
Explain the physical mechanisms of propeller cavitation.
Identify the types of cavitation and their consequences.
Predict cavitation using empirical and numerical methods.
Interpret cavitation tests and observations.
Evaluate pressure pulses, erosion and radiated noise.
Apply design criteria to control cavitation.
Carry out a cavitation analysis of a real propeller.
Who it's for
- Propeller design engineer wishing to specialise in marine propeller cavitation.
- Cavitation and noise specialist wishing to specialise in marine propeller cavitation.
- Cavitation tunnel technician wishing to specialise in marine propeller cavitation.
- Naval CFD engineer wishing to specialise in marine propeller cavitation.
- Propulsion inspector wishing to specialise in marine propeller cavitation.
- Hydrodynamics researcher wishing to specialise in marine propeller cavitation.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter propeller manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-03.1 Model-Scale Cavitation Test
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-03.3 Cavitation Induced Pressure Fluctuations Model Scale Experiments
- ISO 484-1 Marine propellers: manufacturing tolerances
- DNV Rules for Ships, SILENT class notation
- ISO 17208-1 Underwater acoustics — Quantities and procedures for ship radiated noise
- IMO MEPC.1/Circ.906 Guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise
- ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 209 Underwater noise of research vessels
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Vapour pressure and cavitation number1.2Nucleation and gas content in water1.3Types: sheet, bubble, cloud and tip vortex1.4Face and back blade cavitation1.5Burrill diagram1.6Onset and development of cavitation1.7Effect of immersion and wake1.8Bubble dynamics: Rayleigh-Plesset equation1.9Scaling cavitation from model to ship1.10Case study: cavitation margin with Burrill
2.1Blade erosion and damage mechanisms2.2Thrust loss and efficiency drop2.3Pressure pulses induced on the hull2.4Stern vibration and structural excitation2.5Underwater radiated noise2.6Hub vortex cavitation and PHVC2.7Cavitation on rudders and appendages2.8Inspection and classification of erosion damage2.9Repair of damaged blades2.10Case study: diagnosis of erosion on a propeller
3.1Mass transfer models: Schnerr-Sauer and Zwart3.2RANS simulation with sheet cavitation3.3Panel methods with cavity model3.4Tip vortex cavitation in CFD3.5Prediction of hull pressure pulses3.6Erosion simulation: risk indices3.7Mesh requirements in cavitating zones3.8Comparison with tunnel observations3.9Limitations of current models3.10Practice: cavitation simulation on a 2D aerofoil
4.1Cavitation tunnel: set-up and operation4.2Observation with stroboscope and high-speed camera4.3Erosion paint on models4.4Measurement of pressure pulses in the tunnel4.5Scaling of cavitation and Reynolds numbers4.6Control of nuclei content4.7Full-scale cavitation observation4.8Endoscopy and hull observation windows4.9ITTC test standards4.10Laboratory: video analysis of cavitation
5.1Radial blade load distribution5.2Skew and tip unloading5.3Cavitation-resistant blade sections5.4Ducted propellers and CLT5.5Wake improvement with pre-swirl devices5.6Trade-off between efficiency and cavitation5.7Resistant materials: NiAl bronze and stainless steels5.8Low-noise requirements for research vessels5.9Propeller design for naval vessels5.10Workshop: redesign of pitch distribution
6.1Propeller definition and wake conditions6.2Preliminary assessment with empirical criteria6.3Numerical cavitation simulation6.4Estimation of hull pressure pulses6.5Erosion risk assessment6.6Radiated noise analysis6.7Proposal for design modification6.8Tunnel verification test plan6.9Report 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 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 Simcenter STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, PROCAL, OpenFOAM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real cavitation tunnel model test procedures, sheet cavitation simulation on a blade, and erosion inspection of propellers in service. 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.
Explain the physical mechanisms of propeller cavitation.
Identify the types of cavitation and their consequences.
Predict cavitation using empirical and numerical methods.
Interpret cavitation tests and observations.
Evaluate pressure pulses, erosion and radiated noise.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Simcenter STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, PROCAL, OpenFOAM. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM Institute'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 credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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