Professional Diploma in Ocean Route Optimization
This professional diploma gives you the tools and expertise to cut costs, reduce environmental impact and maximize efficiency in planning and executing sea passages. You will learn to use specialized routing software, interpret meteorological and oceanographic data, and apply advanced strategies for safe and economical navigation, from great-circle calculations and weather routing to speed management and just-in-time arrival on real transoceanic routes.
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 Ocean Route Optimization?
This professional diploma trains you to plan, optimize and monitor ocean passages. You will study the IMO guidelines and phases of voyage planning, rhumb-line, great-circle and composite sailing with vertices and waypoints, the interpretation of weather models, wind and waves and the work of weather routing services, minimum-time and minimum-fuel routes and storm avoidance, ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, tidal streams and ice, the speed–consumption relationship, slow steaming, optimum trim, just-in-time arrival and the CII, routing software, ECDIS, optimization algorithms, AI and AIS data, and the safety constraints imposed by traffic separation schemes, piracy areas, ECAs, drafts, canals and straits.
What sets this professional diploma apart: it is dedicated to deep-sea and transoceanic passages, combining navigational calculation with meteorology, oceanography and energy efficiency in a single decision process; it treats the route as an economic and regulatory problem as well as a navigational one, linking fuel curves, CII and emission control areas; it shows how to work with weather routing providers and digital decision-support tools rather than replacing seamanship; and it closes with real cases on the North Atlantic, the Pacific and Suez routes and a final project in which you produce an optimized passage plan.
Program highlights
- Voyage planning: IMO guidelines, phases of the passage plan, coastal passages and plan review.
- Sailing calculations: rhumb line, great circle, composite sailing, vertices, waypoints and distance comparison.
- Weather routing: weather models, wind and waves, minimum-time and minimum-fuel routes and storm avoidance.
- Currents and tides: ocean currents, the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, tidal streams, ice and course made good.
- Efficiency and digital tools: slow steaming, trim, JIT arrival, CII, routing software, ECDIS, AI and AIS data.
- Real cases and final project: North Atlantic, Pacific and Suez routes and an optimized passage plan.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Ocean Route Optimization
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of route planning
- 1.1. The objectives of optimization
- 1.2. Factors that shape the route
- 1.3. IMO regulations and guidelines on voyage planning
- 1.4. Phases of the passage plan
- 1.5. Available tools
- 1.6. The passage plan according to the IMO
- 1.7. Planning coastal passages
- 1.8. Reviewing the plan
Great-circle and rhumb-line sailing
- 2.1. Course and distance
- 2.2. Great-circle track
- 2.3. Composite sailing
- 2.4. Calculating distances
- 2.5. Practical application
- 2.6. Calculating the great circle
- 2.7. Vertices and intermediate points
- 2.8. Comparing distances
Meteorology and weather routing
- 3.1. Interpreting weather models
- 3.2. Waves and wind
- 3.3. Weather routing services
- 3.4. Minimum-time and minimum-fuel routes
- 3.5. Avoiding storms
- 3.6. Climatological routes
- 3.7. Analyzing weather charts
- 3.8. Communicating with the routing provider
Currents, tides and oceanographic conditions
- 4.1. Ocean currents
- 4.2. Making use of currents
- 4.3. Tides in coastal areas
- 4.4. Ice and restricted areas
- 4.5. Oceanographic data
- 4.6. The Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio
- 4.7. Planning with tidal streams
- 4.8. Calculating the course made good
Energy efficiency
- 5.1. The speed–consumption relationship
- 5.2. Slow steaming
- 5.3. Optimum trim
- 5.4. Just-in-time arrival
- 5.5. CII indicators
- 5.6. Consumption curves
- 5.7. Economic speed
- 5.8. Efficiency reports
Digital optimization tools
- 6.1. Route planning software
- 6.2. ECDIS and passage planning
- 6.3. Optimization algorithms
- 6.4. Artificial intelligence
- 6.5. Integration with fleet data
- 6.6. Decision support systems
- 6.7. AIS data for planning
- 6.8. Shared routes
Safety and constraints
- 7.1. Traffic separation schemes
- 7.2. Piracy areas
- 7.3. Emission control areas (ECAs)
- 7.4. Drafts and channels
- 7.5. Risk assessment
- 7.6. High-risk areas
- 7.7. Canals and straits
- 7.8. Draft restrictions
Case studies
- 8.1. Analysis of transoceanic routes
- 8.2. Comparing alternatives
- 8.3. Monitoring and re-planning
- 8.4. Voyage report
- 8.5. The North Atlantic route
- 8.6. The Pacific route
- 8.7. Routes via the Suez Canal
- 8.8. Final project: an optimized passage plan
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Ocean Route Optimization
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 Ocean Route Optimization
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Ocean Route Optimization
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Ocean Route Optimization
To find the best balance between time, distance, fuel consumption, cost and safety for a given passage, taking into account weather, sea state, currents, traffic, regulations and the commercial requirements of the voyage.
Its main focus is deep-sea and transoceanic navigation, with great-circle sailing, weather routing and ocean currents, although it also covers coastal passage planning, tidal streams, canals and straits.
Yes. You learn to interpret weather models and charts, assess wind and waves, compare minimum-time and minimum-fuel routes, avoid storms, use climatological routes and work effectively with weather routing providers.
Through the speed–consumption relationship, consumption curves, slow steaming, economic speed, optimum trim, just-in-time arrival, the CII indicator, emission control areas and efficiency reporting.
Route planning software, ECDIS, optimization algorithms, artificial intelligence, decision support systems, AIS data and the integration of routing with fleet data. The program explains how they work and how to evaluate their results.
You prepare an optimized passage plan for a real voyage, comparing alternatives, accounting for weather, currents, constraints and efficiency, and defining how the route will be monitored and re-planned.
Fully online, with digital resources available 24/7, interactive discussion forums, live sessions that are recorded and personalized tutorials with the teaching staff.
More programs in Bridge and navigation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at merchant navy officers and masters, route planners and logistics operators, maritime data analysts and consultants, nautical and marine engineering students, and marine insurance and legal professionals who need to understand route decisions; a degree in engineering, logistics, mathematics or a related field, or proven experience in voyage planning or logistics optimization, is recommended, and basic notions of optimization and data handling are helpful.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection to access the materials, routing exercises, forums and live sessions.
- 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.