Professional Diploma in Preventive Vessel Maintenance
This professional diploma gives you the essential tools and knowledge to keep a vessel or fleet available, safe and long-lived. You will learn to organize a planned maintenance system and apply inspection routines to the hull, propulsion plant, electrical, hydraulic and auxiliary systems and emergency equipment, combine preventive and condition-based maintenance and control costs through efficient management of spares, budgets and dry-dockings.
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 Preventive Vessel Maintenance?
This professional diploma takes a whole-vessel approach to preventive maintenance for commercial, fishing and leisure craft. You will learn the principles of preventive maintenance, class, IMO and SOLAS requirements, planned maintenance systems (PMS), checklists, spares, permits to work and maintenance records; hull, coating, cathodic protection, seacock, hatch and deck machinery care; routines for main and auxiliary diesel engines, lubrication, fuel, cooling, gearboxes, couplings, shaft alignment and turbochargers; generators, switchboards, insulation testing, batteries, navigation lights and shore power; hydraulic power packs, steering gear, cranes, winches and compressed air; bilge, fresh water, sewage, HVAC and oily water separators; emergency generators, fire pumps, fixed systems, rescue boats and liferafts; and dry-dock planning, condition monitoring, OPEX control and preparation for Port State Control inspections.
What sets this diploma apart: a systematic, ship-wide view that covers every system on board in a single maintenance logic; practical routines and checklists you can transfer directly to your vessel or fleet; a clear link between preventive maintenance, regulatory compliance and survey readiness; attention to emergency and life-saving equipment, often neglected in technical programs; and a final assignment in which you prepare a complete annual preventive maintenance plan for a vessel.
Program highlights
- Planned maintenance: PMS, checklists, spares, permits to work and maintenance records.
- Hull and deck: coatings, anodes, seacocks, watertight closures and deck machinery.
- Propulsion plant: diesel engines, fuel, lubrication, cooling, gearboxes and shaft alignment.
- Electrical and hydraulic systems: generators, switchboards, batteries, steering gear and cranes.
- Auxiliaries and safety: bilge, water, sewage, HVAC, fire-fighting and life-saving equipment.
- Management: dry-dock specifications, condition monitoring, OPEX and PSC readiness.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Preventive Vessel Maintenance
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of preventive maintenance and ship inspection
- 1.1. Philosophy and principles of preventive maintenance in the maritime field
- 1.2. Requirements of classification societies, the IMO and the SOLAS Convention
- 1.3. Planned maintenance systems (PMS) and integration of maritime software
- 1.4. Organizing daily, weekly and monthly checklists
- 1.5. Management of critical spares, consumables and supply logistics in port
- 1.6. Industrial safety rules, permits to work on board and PPE
- 1.7. Technical documentation, maintenance history and engine room records
- 1.8. Maintenance management systems (PMS) in practice
Maintenance of the hull, structures and exterior elements
- 2.1. Periodic inspection of the underwater hull, topsides and deck
- 2.2. Hull cleaning protocols, biofouling removal and propeller polishing
- 2.3. Inspection and maintenance of coatings, paint schemes and sealants
- 2.4. Maintenance of the cathodic protection system (sacrificial anodes and ICCP)
- 2.5. Inspection of scuppers, seacocks and sea strainers
- 2.6. Maintenance of watertight elements: hatches, ports and stern glands
- 2.7. Care of fairleads, windlasses, winches and deck handling equipment
- 2.8. Inspection of the underwater hull
Preventive maintenance of the propulsion plant
- 3.1. Inspection routines for main and auxiliary diesel engines
- 3.2. Lubrication system maintenance: oil changes, filters and sampling
- 3.3. Fuel system servicing: tank draining, filter changes and settling tanks
- 3.4. Cleaning and inspection of heat exchangers and the cooling circuit
- 3.5. Checking belts, tensions, shaft alignment and anti-vibration mounts
- 3.6. Maintenance of reduction gearboxes, flexible couplings and thrust bearings
- 3.7. Preventive inspection of the exhaust system, turbochargers and manifolds
- 3.8. Shaft alignment
Maintenance of electrical and generating systems
- 4.1. Inspection plans for auxiliary generators, alternators and regulators (AVR)
- 4.2. Maintenance of main switchboards, breakers and terminal cleaning
- 4.3. Periodic insulation testing (megger) of motors and cabling
- 4.4. Care, density testing and maintenance of battery banks
- 4.5. Inspection of lighting, navigation lights and searchlights
- 4.6. Maintenance of the shore power connection and transformers
- 4.7. Checking surge protection and earthing systems
- 4.8. Inspection of batteries and alternators
Maintenance of hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- 5.1. Inspection of hydraulic power packs, reservoirs, levels and fluid quality
- 5.2. Changing hydraulic filters and preventing contamination
- 5.3. Maintenance of the steering system, servo motors and hydraulic rams
- 5.4. Preventive overhaul of deck machinery: winches, cranes and capstans
- 5.5. Inspection of hoses, flexible lines and hydraulic connections
- 5.6. Maintenance of air compressors, air receivers and pneumatic dryers
- 5.7. Calibration and testing of relief valves, pressure gauges and pressure switches
- 5.8. Maintenance of hydraulic pumps
Maintenance of auxiliary service and comfort systems
- 6.1. Inspection and maintenance of bilge, drainage and deck wash pumps
- 6.2. Preventive maintenance of the fresh water system and watermakers (reverse osmosis)
- 6.3. Maintenance of the sewage treatment plant (STP) and gray water tanks
- 6.4. Servicing air conditioning, commercial refrigeration and chillers
- 6.5. Maintenance of oily water separators and oil content monitors
- 6.6. Inspection of storage tanks, vents and level sounding devices
- 6.7. Preventive maintenance of galley, laundry and hotel equipment
- 6.8. Air conditioning maintenance
Maintenance of emergency and life-saving equipment
- 7.1. Periodic inspection and start-up tests of the emergency generator
- 7.2. Maintenance of emergency fire pumps and the fire main
- 7.3. Checking portable extinguishers, fixed systems (CO2/Novec) and hoses
- 7.4. Inspection of rescue boats, davits and outboard engines
- 7.5. Maintenance and checks of liferafts, lifebuoys, lifejackets and pyrotechnics
- 7.6. Maintenance of quick-closing fuel valves and hydrostatic release units
- 7.7. Functional tests of general, bilge and smoke detection alarms
- 7.8. Inspection of liferafts and lifeboats
Planning, dry-docking and maintenance management
- 8.1. Preparation, budget and logistics for dry-docking
- 8.2. Preparing the work specification for shipyards
- 8.3. Condition-based monitoring (CBM) with thermography and oil analysis
- 8.4. Reducing operating costs (OPEX) through preventive maintenance
- 8.5. Warranty management for new equipment and control of modifications (as-built)
- 8.6. Internal maintenance audits and preparation for Port State Control (PSC) inspections
- 8.7. Maintenance budget planning
- 8.8. Preparing a comprehensive annual preventive maintenance plan for a vessel
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Preventive Vessel Maintenance
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 Preventive Vessel Maintenance
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Preventive Vessel Maintenance
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Preventive Vessel Maintenance
To avoid or minimize breakdowns, keep the vessel performing well, extend its service life and protect the safety of crew and passengers.
Commercial, fishing and leisure vessels. The maintenance logic is the same, and the routines are scaled to the size and complexity of each vessel.
Yes. You will learn how a PMS is structured, how checklists, spares and records are organized and how maintenance software is integrated on board.
Yes. A full module covers emergency generators, fire pumps, fixed extinguishing systems, rescue boats, liferafts, hydrostatic release units and alarm testing.
It is fully online, with material available at any time, discussion forums and personalized follow-up of your progress.
Through practical cases, maintenance checklists and procedures, dry-dock specifications and a final annual preventive maintenance plan for a vessel.
Basic knowledge of mechanics and electricity is recommended. Vocational training or onboard experience is ideal, and the admission interview confirms the fit.
A Navalis Institute professional diploma and the maintenance plans and procedures you prepare during the program.
More programs in Machinery and electrics
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at naval engineers and marine mechanics, onboard and shipyard maintenance technicians, fleet supervisors and maintenance managers, owners of commercial and leisure vessels and naval engineering students; vocational training in electromechanics, industrial maintenance, shipbuilding or similar, or demonstrable experience in vessel maintenance, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of mechanics, electricity, hydraulics and pneumatics and the ability to read technical manuals and drawings.
- 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 and microphone for 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.