Professional Diploma in High Seas Ship Security
This professional diploma prepares you to protect a ship, its crew and its cargo against deliberate threats in international waters. You will learn the law of the high seas and the ISPS Code, how to carry out a ship security assessment and write a ship security plan, how to deter piracy and armed robbery, how to secure onboard IT and OT networks, how to deal with stowaways, drug trafficking and terrorist threats, and how to audit, drill and manage a serious security incident.
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 High Seas Ship Security?
This professional diploma trains you to plan and lead ship security from the company office to the bridge. You will study UNCLOS and the regime of the high seas, flag state jurisdiction, the right of visit and hot pursuit, the ISPS Code, security levels and declarations of security, the duties of the company and ship security officers, the SUA Convention and the use of armed guards, ship security assessments and plans, access control and restricted areas, high risk areas and Best Management Practices, ship hardening and citadels, IMO guidance on cyber risk, GNSS spoofing and jamming, narco-submarines and parasitic devices, stowaway procedures, the ship security alert system, perimeter surveillance, bomb threats and security drills, and ISSC audits.
What sets this professional diploma apart: it addresses security, protection against deliberate harm, as a discipline in its own right, distinct from operational safety and emergency response; it covers the full spectrum of threats in one program, from piracy and terrorism to cyber attacks, smuggling and stowaways, rather than focusing on a single risk; it is built around the real roles of the company and ship security officers; it connects physical, digital and legal protection; and it ends with a final project in which you write a complete ship security plan for a high-risk intercontinental voyage.
Program highlights
- Legal framework: UNCLOS, flag state jurisdiction, the ISPS Code, security levels, the SUA Convention and armed guards.
- Security planning: ship security assessment, ship security plan, access control and restricted areas.
- Piracy and armed robbery: high risk areas, BMP, ship hardening, citadels, evasive maneuvers and reporting centers.
- Cyber security: IMO cyber risk guidance, OT and IT vulnerabilities, GNSS spoofing and jamming, network hardening.
- Illicit activity and terrorism: trafficking, stowaways, bomb threats, bridge protection and security drills.
- Final project: a complete ship security plan for a high-risk intercontinental voyage.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in High Seas Ship Security
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Legal framework, sovereignty and jurisdiction on the high seas
- 1.1. The law of the sea (UNCLOS) in international waters: the regime of the high seas and freedom of navigation
- 1.2. Flag state jurisdiction and its exceptions: right of visit, hot pursuit and piracy
- 1.3. The IMO framework for the physical protection of ships: the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code
- 1.4. Declaration of security (DoS) and maritime security levels (ISPS levels 1, 2 and 3)
- 1.5. Operational responsibilities of the company security officer (CSO) and the ship security officer (SSO)
- 1.6. International conventions against unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation (SUA Convention)
- 1.7. Legal aspects of the use of force and the engagement of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP)
- 1.8. Right of visit and hot pursuit
Threat assessment, risk analysis and the ship security plan (SSP)
- 2.1. Ship security assessment (SSA) methods
- 2.2. Drawing up and implementing the ship security plan (SSP) and security audits
- 2.3. Identifying physical and operational vulnerabilities in merchant ships, cruise ships and private vessels
- 2.4. Access control, identification of crew and visitors and screening of baggage and stores
- 2.5. Managing restricted areas on board: bridge, engine room, security lockers and steering spaces
- 2.6. Physical searches for stowaways, detection of contraband and searches for explosive devices
- 2.7. Monitoring asymmetric threats and cyber threats and using nautical open-source intelligence (OSINT)
- 2.8. Ship security assessment
Prevention of and tactical response to piracy and armed robbery at sea
- 3.1. High risk areas (HRA): the Gulf of Guinea, the Somali basin and Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca and the Red Sea
- 3.2. Implementing Best Management Practices (BMP) to deter piracy
- 3.3. Ship hardening: physical barriers, razor wire, water cannons and acoustic devices (LRAD)
- 3.4. Design, equipment and procedures for the citadel or onboard safe room
- 3.5. Evasive maneuvering protocols, escape speed and zigzag patterns under attack by small craft
- 3.6. Coordination with international naval forces, piracy reporting centers (UKMTO, MSCHOA, ReCAAP) and protected convoys
- 3.7. Managing the hijacking of the vessel, crisis negotiation and survival as a hostage
- 3.8. Crew protection measures
Maritime cyber security and protection of operational networks (OT/IT)
- 4.1. IMO guidance on maritime cyber risk management within safety management systems (Resolution MSC.428(98))
- 4.2. Vulnerabilities in onboard operational technology (OT): propulsion, steering, power management systems and cargo manifolds
- 4.3. Cyber security in information and navigation technology (IT): ECDIS, radar/ARPA, GNSS and AIS
- 4.4. Mitigating spoofing and jamming attacks on satellite positioning
- 4.5. Hardening onboard networks: VLAN segmentation, remote access management and USB port protection
- 4.6. Cyber incident response protocols: system isolation, data recovery and operational continuity
- 4.7. IEC 62443 standards and BIMCO guidelines on cyber security on board ships
- 4.8. Cyber attacks on navigation systems
Counter-narcotics, stowaways and illicit trafficking in international waters
- 5.1. Detecting drug trafficking methods at sea: self-propelled semi-submersibles (SPSV), parasitic devices attached to hulls and prepared containers
- 5.2. Underwater hull inspection techniques using divers, ROVs and high-definition cameras
- 5.3. Preventing and controlling stowaways: pre-departure search protocols and sealing of access points
- 5.4. Legal and operational handling of stowaways on board: custody, human rights, food and safe disembarkation
- 5.5. Protocols for securing illicit or suspicious cargo found at sea
- 5.6. Interface with international law enforcement (coastguards, Interpol, Frontex) during boardings and cargo inspections
- 5.7. Risk analysis of cargo contamination on container ships, bulk carriers and tankers
- 5.8. Stowaways and handover procedures
Security communications, alert tactics and digital surveillance
- 6.1. The ship security alert system (SSAS): architecture, covert activation and routine testing
- 6.2. Critical communications under threat: GMDSS distress channels, tactical frequencies and encrypted satellite telephony
- 6.3. Perimeter surveillance systems: thermal cameras (FLIR), small-target detection radars and infrared intrusion sensors
- 6.4. Tactical deck lighting and high-intensity searchlights for night-time deterrence
- 6.5. Using AIS in silent or secure mode during high-risk transits
- 6.6. Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) for perimeter surveillance and early threat reconnaissance
- 6.7. Real-time video and data links with shore-based fleet operations centers (FOC)
- 6.8. Communications with security centers
Security emergencies, terrorism and protection of the bridge
- 7.1. Response to bomb threats and suspicious objects on board: systematic search, evacuation and cordoning
- 7.2. Tactics against maritime terrorism, attacks by explosive-laden boats (VBIED/WBIED) and explosive drones
- 7.3. Protecting the navigation console and steering position against a forced takeover of the bridge
- 7.4. Security drills and exercises and crew training under the ISPS Code
- 7.5. Managing panic, psychological factors and crew leadership under attack or siege
- 7.6. Tactical first aid in hostile environments (TCCC / care under fire) on board ships
- 7.7. Contingency plans for containing and neutralizing aggressive intruders on board
- 7.8. Response to a terrorist attack
Security audits, crisis management and final project
- 8.1. Conducting internal and external ship security audits for the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC)
- 8.2. Managing high-impact crises and strategic communication with owners, the media and governments
- 8.3. Maritime intelligence analysis and threat scenario modeling for commercial and private fleets
- 8.4. Integrating security with operational safety and occupational health and safety (HSE)
- 8.5. Preserving a crime scene on board and maintaining the chain of custody of evidence for later legal proceedings
- 8.6. Business continuity and asset recovery plans after a serious security incident at sea
- 8.7. Presentation of the final project
- 8.8. Final project: a comprehensive ship security plan (SSP) with cyber, anti-piracy and tactical response risk assessment for a high-risk intercontinental voyage
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in High Seas Ship Security
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 High Seas Ship Security
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in High Seas Ship Security
Questions about the Professional Diploma in High Seas Ship Security
Merchant ships, tankers, cruise ships, private vessels and offshore installations operating in international waters, together with the shore-based company security function that supports them.
Security: protection against deliberate acts such as piracy, terrorism, cyber attacks, smuggling and stowaways. Operational safety and emergency response appear only where they connect with security incidents.
The anti-piracy diploma concentrates on one threat. This program covers the complete ISPS security framework, of which piracy is one module alongside cyber security, trafficking, stowaways, terrorism and audits.
It covers the knowledge that the SSO and CSO roles require under the ISPS Code. Any official certificate for those roles is issued by the competent maritime administration through its approved training route.
Yes. A full module covers IMO cyber risk guidance, vulnerabilities in OT and IT systems on board, GNSS spoofing and jamming, network hardening, incident response and the IEC 62443 and BIMCO references.
Yes. Security professionals, law enforcement and rescue staff, consultants and shipping company employees take part; the admission interview confirms that the program fits your background.
Through security assessments, procedures and scenario exercises in each module, and through the final project, in which you write a complete ship security plan for a high-risk voyage.
A Navalis Institute professional diploma and a complete ship security plan from your final project that you can use as a reference in your work.
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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 security professionals, members of law enforcement and rescue services, staff of shipping and maritime transport companies, consultants and auditors, and graduates in related fields who want a career in maritime security; training in security or emergencies, or proven experience on board, in security forces, fire services or rescue services, is recommended, and basic STCW safety training 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 and software to view PDF documents and multimedia content.
- 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.