Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue

This professional diploma prepares you to lead and coordinate the response to maritime emergencies, from the first distress alert to the final report. You will study the international search and rescue system, search planning with the IAMSAR Manual, rescue operations at sea and on the coast, crisis leadership on board, crisis communication with authorities, families and the media, pollution response and casualty salvage, and how to design exercises that improve the response.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue?

This professional diploma prepares you to manage maritime crises and rescue operations with method and calm. You will learn how crises and maritime emergencies are classified and analyzed, how the SAR Convention, search regions, rescue coordination centers and on-scene coordinators work, how to plan a search with datum, drift, search patterns and probability of detection, how survivors are recovered by boat, helicopter or from the shore, how the master and the company manage a crisis on board, how to communicate with authorities, families and the media, and how spills, damaged ships, places of refuge and post-incident investigation are handled.

What sets this professional diploma apart: a strictly maritime approach built around the SAR Convention and the IAMSAR Manual; the complete cycle of a crisis, from risk analysis and contingency planning to recovery and investigation; the onboard perspective of command, decision-making under pressure and passenger management; crisis communication with authorities, families, the media and social networks; coverage of pollution response and casualty salvage; and a final project in which you draw up a maritime crisis management plan.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Strictly maritime approach: the SAR Convention and the IAMSAR Manual.
  • Search planning: datum, drift, search patterns and probability of detection.
  • Rescue operations: survivor recovery, helicopters, towing and mass rescue.
  • Onboard crisis leadership: decisions under pressure and passenger management.
  • Crisis communication: authorities, families, media and social networks.
  • Final project: a complete maritime crisis management plan.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of crisis management

  • 1.1. Concept of crisis and maritime emergency
  • 1.2. Types of crisis
  • 1.3. International regulatory framework
  • 1.4. The global SAR system
  • 1.5. Lessons from major accidents
  • 1.6. Phases of a crisis
  • 1.7. Risk analysis
  • 1.8. Contingency plans
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Organization of maritime search and rescue

  • 2.1. The SAR Convention and search and rescue regions
  • 2.2. Maritime rescue coordination centers (MRCC)
  • 2.3. Air and sea assets
  • 2.4. On-scene coordinator
  • 2.5. International cooperation
  • 2.6. SAR communications
  • 2.7. Aeronautical and maritime coordination
  • 2.8. Rescue resources
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Search planning

  • 3.1. The IAMSAR Manual
  • 3.2. Determining the datum
  • 3.3. Drift and search models
  • 3.4. Search patterns
  • 3.5. Probability of detection
  • 3.6. SAR planning software
  • 3.7. Search factors
  • 3.8. Night searches
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Rescue operations

  • 4.1. Survivor recovery techniques
  • 4.2. Helicopter rescue
  • 4.3. Towing and assistance to ships
  • 4.4. Shore-based rescue
  • 4.5. Rescuer safety
  • 4.6. Mass rescue operations
  • 4.7. Fast rescue boats
  • 4.8. Rescue in confined waters
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Crisis management on board

  • 5.1. The master's leadership
  • 5.2. Decision-making under pressure
  • 5.3. Internal communication
  • 5.4. Passenger management
  • 5.5. Company support
  • 5.6. Coordination with the shore-based crisis center
  • 5.7. Decision logging
  • 5.8. Psychological support
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Crisis communication

  • 6.1. Communication with authorities
  • 6.2. Relations with relatives
  • 6.3. News media
  • 6.4. Social networks
  • 6.5. Spokesperson role
  • 6.6. Press releases
  • 6.7. Managing rumours
  • 6.8. Family assistance
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Pollution and casualty salvage

  • 7.1. Spill response
  • 7.2. Salvage of damaged ships
  • 7.3. Places of refuge
  • 7.4. Coordination with shipowners and insurers
  • 7.5. Legal responsibilities
  • 7.6. Emergency towing
  • 7.7. Cargo lightering
  • 7.8. Post-incident investigation
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Exercises and continuous improvement

  • 8.1. Designing crisis exercises
  • 8.2. Evaluating the response
  • 8.3. Accident investigation
  • 8.4. Continuity plans
  • 8.5. Tabletop exercises
  • 8.6. Full-scale exercises
  • 8.7. Final report
  • 8.8. Final project: maritime crisis management plan
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)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 FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue

01Lead and coordinate emergency response operations, setting up a coordination center and mobilizing resources efficiently.
02Develop crisis communication strategies with clear roles, protocols and channels for a fast, coordinated and transparent response.
03Assess and mitigate risks through contingency plans and exercises that reveal vulnerabilities.
04Apply rescue techniques that put the safety of the team and the casualty first and adapt protocols to the available resources.
05Design comprehensive crisis management plans adapted to the organization, with risks, roles, communication and contingencies.
06Apply the legal and ethical framework of crisis and rescue, including SOLAS, the SAR Convention and national regulations.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue

01Maritime emergency managercoordinating resources, planning the response and liaising with authorities.
02Rescue team coordinatorleading operations, managing people and assessing risks on scene.
03Company crisis and emergency officershore-based crisis centers and support to ships at shipping companies.
04Safety and resilience consultantvulnerability assessment, protection strategies and staff training.
05Business continuity specialistcontingency plans, risk mitigation and recovery of operations.
06Crisis management trainerdesigning courses, running exercises and evaluating performance.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Maritime Crisis Management and Rescue

Managing maritime crises and search and rescue operations through the whole cycle: planning, response, mitigation and recovery.

Yes. A full module is devoted to search planning with the IAMSAR Manual: datum, drift, search patterns, probability of detection and planning software.

No. It is also aimed at emergency professionals, shipping company staff and risk managers with a related degree or experience; the admission interview confirms your fit.

No. Navalis teaches the subject, but the roles and certificates required to coordinate rescues depend on the competent maritime authority of each country.

Yes. You work on communication with authorities, relatives, news media and social networks, the spokesperson role and rumor management.

You draw up a maritime crisis management plan for a ship, company or port, including roles, procedures, communication and exercises.

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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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at public and private safety professionals, risk and emergency managers, first responders such as firefighters, paramedics and police, deck officers and shipping company staff, managers of organizations exposed to industrial, environmental or natural risks, and graduates of related fields. A degree related to safety, emergencies, civil protection or health, or demonstrable experience in emergency management or rescue, is recommended; training in first aid, life support or water rescue 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 and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
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Start my applicationFrom $296 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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