Diploma in Incident Investigation and Continuous Improvement
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in maritime incident investigation and continuous improvement. 8 modules covering the marine casualty investigation framework, evidence collection, causal analysis methods, human and organisational factors, near-miss management, corrective actions and legal aspects, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Incident Investigation and Continuous Improvement — studying from South Africa
South Africa's coastline and ports make maritime engineering important, with the Port of Durban, the Port of Cape Town and the Port of Ngqura serving major trade flows. The South African Navy and Armscor support naval procurement, and shipbuilding and repair businesses operate along the coast. Offshore energy and marine services create additional demand, and the sports nautical sector serves recreational boating. The South African Maritime Safety Authority regulates shipping and marine safety.
Fees for South Africa: R 20 400 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by any South African body. Marine and offshore work may involve bodies such as the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and ECSA for engineering registration. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body, so confirm this with them directly.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in naval and offshore industries?
Shipyards, offshore energy firms and marine design consultancies look mainly for certified competence, relevant experience and regulatory knowledge. A private qualification may complement these but will not replace formal certification. Its usefulness depends on each employer's assessment, so ask prospective employers how they would weigh it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You receive an assigned technical tutor, can pay in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Confirm time-zone and workload expectations with SEIUM before committing.
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
Apply the regulatory framework for marine casualty investigation.
Collect and preserve technical and witness evidence.
Use causal analysis methods suited to each incident.
Identify the human and organisational factors involved.
Manage an effective near-miss reporting system.
Define corrective actions and measure their effectiveness.
Write clear, non-blaming investigation reports.
Who it's for
- Marine casualty investigators.
- Designated persons ashore (DPA).
- Safety and quality superintendents.
- ISM auditors.
- Human factors consultants.
- Maritime safety analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter shipping companies.
What you'll work with
- IMO Casualty Investigation Code, Resolution MSC.255(84) (safety investigation of marine casualties and incidents)
- Directive 2009/18/EC (investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector)
- ISM Code (International Safety Management Code)
- MLC 2006 (Maritime Labour Convention, including hours of rest)
- STCW Convention (standards of training, certification and watchkeeping)
- ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management systems)
- ISO 9001 (quality management systems)
- Resolution A.1075(28) (guidelines to assist investigators with human factors)
- TapRooT
- BowTieXP
- Microsoft Power BI
- Kongsberg K-Sim Navigation
8 modules
1.1IMO Casualty Investigation Code1.2Directive 2009/18/EC and national bodies1.3Difference between technical and judicial investigation1.4Classification of casualties and incidents1.5Ship notification obligations1.6Investigation commissions such as Spain's CIAIM1.7Relationship with the ISM Code and the DPA1.8Witness protection and just culture1.9Publication of reports and recommendations1.10Case study: analysis of an official casualty report
2.1Preserving the incident scene2.2Voyage data recorders (VDR)2.3ECDIS charts and engine logs2.4Forensic photography and documentation2.5Fuel and oil samples2.6Interviews with crew and witnesses2.7Chain of custody of evidence2.8Timeline reconstruction2.9AIS and vessel traffic service data2.10Practical: extracting and reading VDR data
3.1Reason's Swiss cheese model3.2Cause trees and Ishikawa diagrams3.3Five whys analysis3.4TapRooT method and causal factors3.5HFACS methodology adapted to the maritime domain3.6Barrier analysis and bow-tie3.7STAMP method and CAST analysis3.8Timeline of events and factors3.9Choosing the method for each incident3.10Workshop: CAST analysis of a grounding
4.1Human error and procedural violations4.2Fatigue and hours of rest under the MLC4.3Bridge resource management (BRM)4.4Engine room resource management4.5Communication and language barriers4.6Commercial pressure and decision-making4.7Ergonomic design of the workplace4.8Automation and situational awareness4.9Company safety culture4.10Case study: human factors in a collision
5.1Definition and value of near misses5.2Confidential reporting systems5.3Classification and coding of events5.4Trend and precursor analysis5.5Feedback to the fleet5.6Industry programmes such as CHIRP Maritime5.7Leading safety indicators5.8Barriers to reporting among crew5.9Communicating lessons learned5.10Practical: designing a reporting form
6.1From finding to recommendation6.2Hierarchy of risk controls6.3Corrective and preventive action plans6.4PDCA cycle in ship management6.5Follow-up and close-out of actions6.6ISM internal audits6.7Management review6.8Safety performance indicators6.9Management of change after an incident6.10Workshop: action plan after a deck injury
7.1Writing the investigation report7.2Non-blaming language7.3Relationship with insurers and P&I7.4Implications for charterers and vetting7.5Coordination with the flag state7.6Media management after a casualty7.7Confidentiality and use of evidence7.8Dissemination of safety alerts7.9Training based on real cases7.10Case study: safety alert for the fleet
8.1Selection of the case study8.2Gathering the available evidence8.3Reconstructing the sequence of events8.4Applied causal analysis8.5Human and organisational factors8.6Recommendations and corrective actions8.7Improvement follow-up plan8.8Final investigation report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is TapRooT, BowTieXP, Microsoft Power BI and Kongsberg K-Sim Navigation, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures: investigation of a grounding with VDR data, analysis of a fleet's near misses and an internal audit of the ISM system. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: IMO Casualty Investigation Code (Resolution MSC.255(84)), Directive 2009/18/EC, ISM Code, MLC 2006, STCW Convention, ISO 45001, ISO 9001, Resolution A.1075(28).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read 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 totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with TapRooT, BowTieXP, Microsoft Power BI and Kongsberg K-Sim Navigation, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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