Master’s in Civil Maritime Nuclear and Energy Ports Engineering (Civil and Regulatory Focus)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in civil maritime nuclear engineering and energy ports (civil and regulatory focus). 12 modules covering the maritime regulatory framework, marine reactors, naval design and integration, maritime nuclear safety, energy ports, alternative marine fuels, radiation protection, crew operations, economics and decommissioning, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Civil Maritime Nuclear and Energy Ports Engineering (Civil and Regulatory Focus) — studying from South Africa
South Africa is one of the few African countries with an operating nuclear power programme, centred on the Koeberg power station near Cape Town, operated by Eskom. The country also has nuclear research and fuel cycle activity through the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, known as Necsa, based at Pelindaba near Pretoria. Nuclear engineers work on reactor operation, safety, fuel management and decommissioning. The National Nuclear Regulator is the independent authority that licenses and oversees nuclear activities.
Fees for South Africa: R 185 000 (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 and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Nuclear activities in South Africa are regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), and professional registration runs through ECSA. Acceptance of a private qualification in this regulated field rests with employers or the relevant authority, so verify before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in nuclear engineering?
Nuclear employers, including Eskom and specialist contractors, typically require formally recognised qualifications, security clearances and regulatory competence. A private SEIUM qualification may add background knowledge but is unlikely to meet formal requirements on its own. Discuss this with employers in the nuclear sector to understand how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before enrolling.
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
Analyse the historical experience of civil maritime nuclear energy.
Interpret the maritime and nuclear regulatory framework.
Assess reactor technologies for marine applications.
Integrate nuclear systems into naval design.
Analyse nuclear safety in the marine environment.
Plan energy ports and alternative fuels.
Assess the economics and end of life of nuclear ships.
Who it's for
- Maritime nuclear engineers.
- Naval architects interested in nuclear propulsion.
- Maritime decarbonisation consultants.
- Maritime regulatory analysts.
- Port energy planners.
- Classification society surveyors.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter maritime transport.
What you'll work with
- SOLAS Convention Chapter VIII (nuclear ships)
- IMO Resolution A.491(XII) (Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships)
- Paris Convention (third-party liability in the field of nuclear energy)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 – FuelEU Maritime (greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels)
- IGF Code (ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels)
- STCW Convention (training and certification of seafarers)
- IAEA SSR-6 (regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material)
- Maxsurf
- RELAP5
- MATLAB
- OpenMC
- DNV Nauticus
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1History: NS Savannah, Otto Hahn and Mutsu1.2Civil nuclear icebreakers1.3Floating power plants: Akademik Lomonosov1.4Nuclear propulsion for merchant ships1.5Decarbonisation of maritime transport1.6The IMO GHG strategy1.7An exclusively civil and regulatory focus1.8Public acceptance and ports1.9Technology roadmap1.10Case study: analysis of the operation of a floating power plant
2.1SOLAS Convention Chapter VIII2.2Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships2.3Classification societies: Lloyd's, DNV and ABS2.4Nuclear civil liability: the Paris and Vienna Conventions2.5The Brussels Convention on nuclear ships2.6Law of the sea and innocent passage2.7Nuclear marine insurance2.8Revision of the IMO code2.9Port regulation2.10Workshop: analysis of SOLAS VIII requirements
3.1Requirements for shipboard reactors3.2Compact marine PWRs3.3Molten salt reactors for ships3.4Lead-cooled reactors3.5Microreactors for auxiliary power3.6Ship motions and thermal hydraulics3.7Compact shielding3.8Refuelling and fuel cycle3.9HALEU fuel3.10Lab: effect of rolling on natural circulation
4.1Naval architecture of the nuclear ship4.2The reactor compartment4.3Collision and grounding resistance4.4Stability and buoyancy4.5Electric propulsion systems4.6Interfaces with ship systems4.7General arrangement4.8Fire protection4.9Barge design for floating power plants4.10Practical: general arrangement of a nuclear container ship
5.1Defence in depth at sea5.2Sinking accidents5.3Collision and grounding5.4Fire on board5.5Loss of heat sink5.6Maritime probabilistic analysis5.7Emergency plans in port and at sea5.8Lessons from the Kursk and other accidents5.9Physical security5.10Case study: analysis of a sinking scenario
6.1The energy port concept6.2Onshore power supply to ships (OPS)6.3Fuel production in port6.4Port hydrogen and ammonia6.5Floating power plants as a port energy source6.6Integration with marine renewables6.7Energy storage6.8Port planning6.9The cases of Rotterdam and Antwerp6.10Workshop: energy plan for a port
7.1Ammonia as a marine fuel7.2Green methanol7.3Liquefied hydrogen7.4Production with nuclear energy7.5Bunkering and safety7.6The IGF Code7.7Comparison of decarbonisation pathways7.8Fuel costs7.9FuelEU Maritime regulation7.10Practical: emissions comparison with the CII tool
8.1Radiation protection on board8.2Crew dosimetry8.3Effluents and discharges8.4The London Convention on dumping8.5Port radiological monitoring8.6Marine environmental impact8.7Waste management on board8.8Radiological emergency response8.9Communication with authorities8.10Case study: port radiological monitoring plan
9.1Training of nuclear crews9.2The STCW Convention9.3Safety organisation on board9.4In-service maintenance9.5Refuelling at the shipyard9.6Human factors9.7Port operations9.8Inspections and certifications9.9ISM safety management9.10Lab: training plan for a crew
10.1Life cycle cost of a nuclear ship10.2Comparison with alternative fuels10.3Reactor leasing10.4Energy-as-a-service models10.5Insurance and liability10.6Ship financing10.7Target markets10.8Risk analysis10.9Value of avoided emissions10.10Practical: economic model of a container ship
11.1IAEA safeguards on ships11.2Physical security of fuel11.3Fuel transport11.4Decommissioning of nuclear ships11.5Management of reactor compartments11.6Decommissioning experience11.7The Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling11.8End-of-life planning11.9International cooperation11.10Workshop: decommissioning plan for a floating power plant
12.1Definition of the maritime or port case12.2Applicable regulatory framework12.3Technology selection12.4Conceptual design and integration12.5Safety analysis12.6Economic and environmental assessment12.7Implementation plan12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 the intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Maxsurf, RELAP5, MATLAB, OpenMC and DNV Nauticus, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for safety analysis of shipboard reactors, naval integration studies, and economic modelling of ships and ports. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: SOLAS Convention Chapter VIII, IMO Resolution A.491(XII) Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships, Paris Convention on nuclear civil liability, Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 (FuelEU Maritime), IGF Code, STCW Convention, IAEA SSR-6 (transport of radioactive material).
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Maxsurf, RELAP5, MATLAB, OpenMC and DNV Nauticus, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme 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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