Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance
This professional diploma trains you to integrate unmanned aircraft into maritime security and coastal control operations. You will learn to plan surveillance missions over the sea, choose EO/IR, thermal, radar and AIS payloads, operate from ships and platforms, and turn video and sensor data into alerts and evidence for detecting illicit activity, fisheries control, search and rescue, pollution monitoring and the protection of ports and critical infrastructure, within the applicable aviation rules.
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 Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance?
This professional diploma prepares you to run aerial surveillance missions with drones in coastal, port and offshore environments. You will study multirotor, fixed-wing, hybrid and VTOL platforms and the limits that wind, salt, waves and ship motion impose on them; how to integrate electro-optical, thermal, radar, multispectral and AIS payloads; how to plan routes, search patterns, endurance reserves and contingencies over the sea; how to launch and recover aircraft from moving decks; how to track vessels, detect intrusions, illegal fishing and spills and support search and rescue; and how to transmit, georeference and analyze data with artificial intelligence so that it reaches control centers as actionable information.
What sets this professional diploma apart: a clear focus on surveillance and security rather than general drone operations, with missions built around detection, identification and tracking of vessels and people; specific training in shipborne launch and recovery and coordination with the bridge; real-time video links and AI-based detection feeding maritime surveillance platforms; operational safety, salt-environment maintenance and EASA rules and flight authorizations; and a final project in which you design a complete surveillance mission for a coastal, port, fisheries, environmental or search and rescue scenario.
Program highlights
- Surveillance focus: detection, identification and tracking of vessels, people and illicit activity.
- Payloads: EO/IR cameras, thermal sensors, light radar, multispectral sensors and AIS receivers.
- Mission planning over the sea: search patterns, endurance, weather and contingency plans.
- Shipborne operations: launch and recovery from moving decks and coordination with the bridge.
- Data and AI: real-time video, georeferencing and automatic detection for control centers.
- Final project: a complete surveillance mission designed for a realistic maritime scenario.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of unmanned aircraft systems in maritime environments
- 1.1. Operating principles of unmanned aerial vehicles applied to coastal, port and ocean surveillance
- 1.2. Classification of multirotor, fixed-wing, hybrid and vertical take-off and landing platforms for maritime missions
- 1.3. Essential components: airframe, propulsion, flight controller, navigation, communications, power and payload
- 1.4. Comparison of endurance, range, speed, weather resistance and deployability of each platform
- 1.5. Applications in maritime traffic control, port inspection, search and rescue, environmental protection and fisheries surveillance
- 1.6. Operational limitations caused by wind, humidity, salinity, waves, ship motion and loss of visual references
- 1.7. Conceptual design of UAV systems adapted to maritime observation, tracking and intelligence-gathering missions
- 1.8. Classification of UAS and the evolution of their maritime use
Architecture, sensors and payloads for maritime surveillance
- 2.1. Integration of high-resolution electro-optical cameras, zoom and stabilization systems on aerial platforms
- 2.2. Use of thermal sensors for night detection, locating people, fires and thermal anomalies
- 2.3. Application of light radars, multispectral and hyperspectral sensors and remote detection systems
- 2.4. Incorporation of automatic identification system receivers and maritime target location systems
- 2.5. Choosing payloads according to altitude, distance, required resolution, type of target and environmental conditions
- 2.6. Management of electrical power, weight, balance, electromagnetic interference and compatibility between subsystems
- 2.7. Configuring modular architectures that allow the drone to be adapted to different surveillance missions
- 2.8. EO/IR cameras, radar and specialized sensors
Mission planning and air navigation over the sea
- 3.1. Defining objectives, operating areas, routes, altitudes, flight times and mission completion criteria
- 3.2. Planning flights from the shore, port facilities, offshore platforms and moving vessels
- 3.3. Setting waypoints, search patterns, orbits, corridors and exclusion zones
- 3.4. Calculating endurance, energy consumption, reserves, return distance and safety margins
- 3.5. Assessing wind, visibility, cloud, precipitation, solar radiation and sea state
- 3.6. Managing signal loss, degraded positioning, route deviation and activation of automatic return
- 3.7. Preparing primary, alternative and contingency flight plans for complex maritime operations
- 3.8. GNSS navigation and route planning over the sea
Operating drones from ships and offshore platforms
- 4.1. Preparing take-off and recovery areas on decks, quays, platforms and auxiliary craft
- 4.2. Coordination between the remote pilot, master, bridge, deck operators and safety officers
- 4.3. Launch and recovery techniques for multirotors, fixed-wing aircraft and hybrid systems
- 4.4. Compensating for platform motion, roll, pitch, vibration and changes in the ship's heading
- 4.5. Managing approaches, precision landings, recovery nets and assisted capture systems
- 4.6. Protecting equipment against spray, corrosion, condensation, impacts and salt contamination
- 4.7. Developing standard operating procedures for missions deployed from maritime units
- 4.8. Take-off and recovery from a moving deck
Maritime surveillance, inspection and reconnaissance applications
- 5.1. Surveillance of port areas, anchorages, navigation channels, coastal perimeters and critical infrastructure
- 5.2. Tracking and identifying vessels by image, position, course, speed and operational behavior
- 5.3. Detection of illicit activity, unauthorised fishing, pollution, intrusion and suspicious approaches
- 5.4. Aerial inspection of hulls, decks, cranes, terminals, platforms, buoys and aids to navigation
- 5.5. Support for search and rescue operations through search patterns and thermal detection
- 5.6. Assessment of spills, oil slicks, floating debris and disturbances to the marine ecosystem
- 5.7. Producing visual intelligence products for decision-making, documentation and operational follow-up
- 5.8. Fisheries surveillance, search and rescue and border control
Transmission, processing and analysis of UAV data
- 6.1. Configuring command, telemetry, video and real-time data links
- 6.2. Managing coverage, latency, interference, link loss and beyond visual line of sight communication
- 6.3. Georeferencing images, video, detections and tracks recorded during the mission
- 6.4. Processing data to generate orthomosaics, three-dimensional models and operational maps
- 6.5. Applying algorithms for the automatic detection, classification and tracking of vessels and people
- 6.6. Integrating UAV data with geographic information systems, control centers and maritime surveillance platforms
- 6.7. Designing analysis workflows that turn raw data into alerts, evidence and operational reports
- 6.8. Real-time video transmission and analysis with artificial intelligence
Operational safety, maintenance and risk management
- 7.1. Identifying risks related to loss of control, impact, falling into the sea, interference and propulsion failure
- 7.2. Preparing risk assessments according to mission, environment and proximity to people and infrastructure
- 7.3. Defining safety zones, abort criteria, alternative landing sites and emergency procedures
- 7.4. Preventive maintenance of motors, propellers, batteries, sensors, connectors, housings and navigation systems
- 7.5. Post-flight inspection in salt environments and application of anti-corrosion procedures
- 7.6. Management of flight logs, incidents, battery cycles, repairs and component service life
- 7.7. Implementing an operational safety system focused on reliability, traceability and continuous improvement
- 7.8. EASA regulations and flight authorizations
Applied final project in UAVs and drones for maritime surveillance
- 8.1. Definition of a fictitious coastal, port, fisheries, environmental or search and rescue surveillance case
- 8.2. Analysis of the operating area, objectives, threats, environmental conditions and available resources
- 8.3. Selection of the platform, sensors, communications, ground control station and auxiliary systems
- 8.4. Design of the mission plan with routes, search patterns, endurance, contingencies and safety criteria
- 8.5. Development of the procedure for capturing, transmitting, analyzing and storing the data obtained
- 8.6. Preparation of the maintenance plan, risk management, indicators and assessment of operational performance
- 8.7. Presentation of the surveillance mission designed
- 8.8. Presentation of the final report with technical, operational, logistical, information and safety validation of the proposed system
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance
It is 800 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 Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance
Questions about the Professional Diploma in UAVs and Drones for Maritime Surveillance
Maritime surveillance and security: ports, coastal perimeters, fisheries control, pollution monitoring, search and rescue support and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Every module is oriented towards surveillance: detecting, identifying and tracking targets, producing visual intelligence and feeding alerts and evidence to control centers.
No. You study EASA rules and flight authorizations, but remote pilot certificates and operational authorizations are issued by the competent aviation authority.
Electro-optical and infrared cameras, thermal sensors, light radar, multispectral and hyperspectral sensors and AIS receivers, and how to choose them for each mission.
Yes. A full module deals with launch and recovery from moving decks, platform motion and coordination with the master and bridge team.
You design a complete surveillance mission for a realistic scenario, from platform and sensor selection to the data workflow, maintenance plan and risk management.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each and ends with a final project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at maritime security professionals implementing aerial surveillance, naval engineers and technicians integrating drones into maritime operations, maritime rescue and emergency personnel, port authorities and coastal administrations working on fisheries control and environmental protection, and shipping and logistics companies using drones for vessel inspection. A degree in security, engineering or a related field, or demonstrable experience in maritime surveillance, security forces or a related sector, is recommended; basic knowledge of aviation rules, UAV systems and surveillance technologies is an advantage.
- 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, software for viewing documents and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- 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.