Small Port Operations Management Course
Learn to run the day-to-day operations of small ports, whether marinas, fishing harbors, tourist quays or mixed local ports. This course gives you the tools to make the most of limited infrastructure and resources, plan berths and services, keep users and staff safe, maintain facilities and manage the port's environmental impact, all with a practical approach built around a real-world case of your choice.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Small Port Operations Management Course?
This course focuses on the specific reality of small ports: leisure marinas, fishing harbors, tourist quays, local commercial ports and maritime service bases. You will start with how these ports work and who the key players are, then move on to daily planning of berths, moorings, slipways and service quays, the management of arrivals, departures, bookings and boats in transit, and the coordination of water, electricity, fuel, ice, cleaning, waste and other auxiliary services, as well as maintenance work and haul-outs.
What sets this course apart: it is designed for ports with limited capacity, seasonal demand and small teams rather than large terminals; it covers access control, emergency protocols and the prevention of everyday operational risks such as falls into the water, fires and spills; it gives equal weight to the maintenance of pontoons, mooring hardware, utilities and safety equipment and to waste and pollution control; and it ends with an applied project in which you diagnose a real or realistic port and design its operating, safety, maintenance and environmental plans.
Program highlights
- Types of small port: marinas, fishing harbors, tourist quays, mixed ports and service bases.
- Daily planning: berths, moorings, slipways, arrivals, departures, bookings and boats in transit.
- Service coordination: water, electricity, fuel, ice, cleaning, waste and auxiliary services.
- Port safety: access control, safety equipment and protocols for fire, man overboard and spills.
- Maintenance of pontoons, fenders, bollards, utilities, pumps and fire-fighting systems.
- Applied project: a complete operating, safety, maintenance and environmental plan for a small port.
Syllabus of the Small Port Operations Management Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Operational management fundamentals, local port administration and how small ports work
- 1.1. The concept of a small port and the differences between marinas, fishing, tourist, mixed and local commercial ports and maritime service bases
- 1.2. Main services: berthing, mooring, supplies, reception of boats, user management, maintenance, safety and operational support
- 1.3. Key players: port authority, local administration, skippers, owners, fishers, leisure users, suppliers and maritime authorities
- 1.4. The relationship between infrastructure, daily operations, customer service, safety, compliance and economic sustainability
- 1.5. Common challenges: limited capacity, seasonality, maintenance of facilities, coordination of services and cost control
Daily planning, space allocation and coordination of port services
- 2.1. Organization of berths, moorings, anchorages, waiting areas, slipways, boatyard, service quays and light cargo areas
- 2.2. Management of arrivals, departures, bookings, temporary stays, permanent users, visitors and boats in transit
- 2.3. Coordination of supplies: water, electricity, fuel, ice, cleaning, waste, showers, laundry and auxiliary services
- 2.4. Scheduling of maintenance work, repairs, haul-outs, internal movements and visits from technical suppliers
- 2.5. Operational communication with users, skippers, quay staff, administration, external services and authorities
Port safety, access control, emergencies and prevention of operational risks
- 3.1. Common risks in small ports: falls into the water, slips, fires, impacts, unsafe maneuvers, spills and unauthorised access
- 3.2. Access control and identification of users, visitors, suppliers and vehicles, restricted areas and operating hours
- 3.3. Safety equipment: extinguishers, lifebuoys, first-aid kits, signage, lighting, cameras, barriers and means of communication
- 3.4. Protocols for fire, man overboard, injury, spill, storm, drifting boat, power failure or medical emergency
- 3.5. Briefings, internal rules, preventive communication, coordination with emergency services and incident logging
Maintenance of infrastructure and equipment, cleaning and environmental management of the port
- 4.1. Maintenance of pontoons, fenders, mooring cleats, bollards, ladders, gangways, paving, lighting and signage
- 4.2. Inspection of electrical networks, water points, distribution boards, pumps, fire-fighting systems, barriers and emergency equipment
- 4.3. Cleaning of quays, common areas, toilets, offices, slipways, boatyards, bins and separate collection points
- 4.4. Management of waste, oils, black water, hydrocarbons, rubbish, maintenance residues and hazardous materials
- 4.5. Pollution prevention, responsible anchoring, discharge control, good environmental practice and user awareness
Applied project in small port operations management
- 5.1. Defining the case: small marina, fishing harbor, local marina, nautical base, tourist quay or mixed port
- 5.2. Diagnosis of facilities, users, services, risks, maintenance, costs, regulations and opportunities for improvement
- 5.3. Design of the operating plan with space allocation, management of arrivals and departures, services, communication and internal coordination
- 5.4. Drawing up the plan for safety, emergencies, access control, risk prevention and incident logging
- 5.5. Development of the maintenance, environmental management, administration, indicators, costs and continuous improvement plan
Duration and format of the Small Port Operations Management Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Small Port Operations Management Course
Career opportunities after the Small Port Operations Management Course
Questions about the Small Port Operations Management Course
Making the best use of the port's infrastructure and resources so that berths, services, safety and maintenance work smoothly, efficiently and sustainably.
Leisure marinas, fishing harbors, tourist quays, local commercial ports, mixed ports and maritime service bases.
Limited resources: financial, infrastructure and staff. Add seasonality and aging facilities, and careful planning becomes essential.
Yes. It covers access control, safety equipment and protocols for fire, man overboard, injury, spills, storms, drifting boats, power failures and medical emergencies.
A complete plan for a small port of your choice, covering operations, safety and emergencies, maintenance, environmental management, indicators and costs.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Ports and marinas
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at port administrators and operations staff in small ports, local and regional authorities responsible for coastal infrastructure, port service providers, entrepreneurs and consultants, and students and professionals of the maritime sector; vocational training in port management, logistics or administration, or work experience in port operations, is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and software to view PDF documents and spreadsheets.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.