Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering

This master's gives you a complete, specialized grounding in the design, construction and management of ports and their infrastructure. With a practical, up-to-date approach, it covers the challenges of modern port engineering from strategic planning to operation and maintenance, so you can improve the efficiency, sustainability and safety of port facilities using current technologies and methods.

Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
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About the program

What is the Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering?

This master's follows a port asset through its whole life cycle. You will study port typologies, the components of the port system and risk-based engineering; wave climate, currents, tides and hydrodynamic modeling; port geotechnics, deep foundations, ground improvement and liquefaction; breakwaters, armor units, overtopping and scour; access channels, dredging and sediment management; the structural design of quays, piers and yards, with durability, fatigue, fenders and bollards; terminal layout, capacity, equipment and intermodal connections; environmental management, climate resilience and nature-based solutions; EPC project management, contracts, cost control, QA/QC and claims; and digitalization, structural health monitoring, digital twins and OT cybersecurity.

What sets this master's apart: it links the physics of the sea and the ground with structural design, construction and day-to-day terminal operation, so every decision is checked against capacity, durability, safety and cost; it treats climate resilience and environmental performance as design criteria, not afterthoughts; it adds the contract, scheduling and claims side that decides whether a port project succeeds; and it closes with a Final Project in which you develop a port infrastructure study of your own.

Program typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Port engineering framework: typologies, asset life cycle, requirements management and risk-based design.
  • Metocean and hydrodynamics: wave climate, transformation, tides, storm surge and 2D/3D modeling.
  • Geotechnics and maritime works: deep foundations, ground improvement, breakwaters and overtopping.
  • Channels, dredging and structures: navigability design, sediment management, quays, piers and yards.
  • Terminals and environment: layout, capacity, STS/RTG/RMG cranes, intermodality, resilience and nature-based solutions.
  • Projects and digital ports: EPC contracts, cost and schedule control, QA/QC, structural monitoring and digital twins.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Integrated framework of port engineering, infrastructure typologies and the asset life cycle in complex maritime settings

  • 1.1. Concepts and typologies of port infrastructure: commercial, energy, fishing, tourist and multipurpose ports
  • 1.2. Critical components of the port system: basins, channels, maritime access, yards, terminals and intermodal connections
  • 1.3. Functionality criteria and levels of service: capacity, operational reliability, resilience and business continuity
  • 1.4. Phases of the asset life cycle: planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, expansion and decommissioning
  • 1.5. Technical governance of the port project: stakeholders, permits, easements and institutional coordination
  • 1.6. Requirements management and traceability: specifications, acceptance criteria and engineering change control
  • 1.7. Risk-based engineering approach: criticality matrices, ALARP and prioritization of mitigations
  • 1.8. Port-city integration and territorial compatibility: land uses, externalities and planning of the waterfront
  • 1.9. Performance indicators and metrics: technical, environmental, operational and safety KPIs
  • 1.10. Workshop on formulating the base case: scope, assumptions, constraints and definition of the port design brief
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Oceanography and hydrodynamics applied to ports: waves, currents, tides and maritime climate for sheltering works

  • 2.1. Maritime climate: wave statistics, return periods and directional characterization for design
  • 2.2. Wave transformation toward the coast: refraction, diffraction, shoaling and breaking at port entrances
  • 2.3. Currents and local circulation: forcing, interaction with structures and effects on maneuvering and sedimentation
  • 2.4. Tides and extreme water levels: astronomical tide, meteorological tide, storm surge and design level
  • 2.5. Hydrodynamic modeling: 2D/3D approaches, calibration, validation and parameter sensitivity
  • 2.6. Metocean operability: weather windows, closure thresholds and annual availability of the infrastructure
  • 2.7. Conditions inside basins: residual agitation, resonance and berthing comfort criteria
  • 2.8. Wave-structure interaction: loads, setup, overtopping and damage mechanisms
  • 2.9. Instrumentation and field campaigns: buoys, ADCP, tide gauges, bathymetry and data quality control
  • 2.10. Project metocean summary: data consolidation, uncertainty and design scenarios
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Port geotechnical engineering: site investigation, soil-structure interaction and ground improvement in saturated ground

  • 3.1. Geotechnical and geophysical campaigns: boreholes, CPTu, laboratory testing, interpretation and stratigraphic models
  • 3.2. Mechanical properties of saturated soils: consolidation, shear strength and post-liquefaction behavior
  • 3.3. Global and local stability of works: slopes, fills, excavations and stability during construction
  • 3.4. Deep foundations: piles, diaphragm walls, sheet piles and design criteria for capacity and serviceability
  • 3.5. Soil-structure interaction in quays: earth pressures, deformations, differential settlement and compatibility
  • 3.6. Ground improvement: preloading, drains, vibrocompaction, DSM, jet grouting and stone columns
  • 3.7. Port retaining structures: earth pressure calculation, anchors, tie-back systems and deformation control
  • 3.8. Liquefaction and seismicity: hazard assessment, response analysis and mitigation measures
  • 3.9. Geotechnical instrumentation: inclinometers, piezometers, surveying, settlement control and thresholds
  • 3.10. Geotechnical risk management: the observational method, contingencies and monitoring plan
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Breakwaters and port coastal protection: rubble mounds, vertical breakwaters, revetments and design for setup and overtopping

  • 4.1. Breakwater typologies: rubble mound, vertical, composite, caisson and hybrid solutions
  • 4.2. Hydraulic sizing: armor layer stability, filter layers, core and allowable damage criteria
  • 4.3. Materials and armor units: rock, concrete blocks, tetrapods, Xbloc/Accropode and technical-economic selection
  • 4.4. Overtopping and safety: discharge rates, operational criteria, crest protection and risk to people
  • 4.5. Scour and erosion: mechanisms, toe protection, mattresses and foundation control
  • 4.6. Construction design: access, logistics, tolerances, compaction control and quality assurance
  • 4.7. Rehabilitation and strengthening: diagnosis, retrofits, crest raising, berms and life extension measures
  • 4.8. Associated coastal protection: groins, beach defenses, nature-based solutions and compatibility
  • 4.9. Failure and performance analysis: failure modes, post-storm inspection and management of extreme events
  • 4.10. Maintenance plan for breakwaters: inspections, damage indicators and scheduling of interventions
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Access channels, dredging and sediment management: bathymetry, navigability design and disposal of materials

  • 5.1. Design of channels and basins: drafts, widths, radii, safety margins and maneuvering criteria
  • 5.2. Bathymetry and surveys: multibeam, geodetic control, uncertainty and charting products
  • 5.3. Sedimentary processes: longshore transport, channel deposition, resuspension and basin siltation
  • 5.4. Types of dredging: maintenance, capital and emergency dredging, and planning by operational criticality
  • 5.5. Equipment and methods: trailing suction, cutter suction, backhoe and clamshell dredgers, and selection by material
  • 5.6. Sediment characterization: grain size, contaminants, testing and classification for disposal
  • 5.7. Environmental management of dredging: turbidity, plumes, monitoring, mitigation measures and compliance limits
  • 5.8. Disposal and beneficial use: offshore disposal sites, confinement, fills, beach nourishment and alternative uses
  • 5.9. Production control and QA/QC: output rates, tolerances, control surveys and acceptance of works
  • 5.10. Integrated sediment management strategy: balance, costs, risks and multi-year program
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Structural design of quays, piers and yards: actions, durability, fatigue and construction detailing in the marine environment

  • 6.1. Quay typologies: piled quays, sheet pile walls, caissons, cellular quays and combined solutions
  • 6.2. Design actions: ship loads, mooring, impact, waves, wind, earthquake and yard operating loads
  • 6.3. Performance-based and serviceability design: deflections, cracking, vibrations, settlement and operability criteria
  • 6.4. Durability in the marine environment: corrosion, carbonation, chlorides, coatings and cathodic protection
  • 6.5. Marine concrete and steels: mix design, admixtures, quality control, specification and acceptance
  • 6.6. Fatigue and cyclic loads: cranes, heavy traffic, residual waves and design life assessment
  • 6.7. Fenders and bollards: selection, berthing energy, configuration and verification of anchorages
  • 6.8. Pavements and yards: layers, drainage, bearing capacity, deformations and maintenance criteria
  • 6.9. Construction detailing and constructability: joints, tolerances, sequences and interface control
  • 6.10. Inspection and testing: materials control, tests, acceptance protocols and as-built documentation
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Port operations, terminal engineering and intermodality: layout, capacity, equipment and flow optimization

  • 7.1. Principles of terminal engineering: processes, bottlenecks, cycle times and operational synchronization
  • 7.2. Layout design: zoning, yards, lanes, gate, inspection areas and operational safety
  • 7.3. Capacity and simulation: demand modeling, scenarios, KPIs and resource sizing
  • 7.4. Terminal equipment: STS, RTG and RMG cranes, reach stackers, internal transport and selection criteria
  • 7.5. Intermodality: rail, road, barges, connectivity and design of transfer nodes
  • 7.6. Mooring and maneuvering engineering: tugs, pilotage, aids to navigation and metocean windows
  • 7.7. Yard management and TOS: stacking rules, dispatch strategies and move optimization
  • 7.8. Operational safety (HSE) in terminals: segregation, routes, signage, permits and risk control
  • 7.9. Operational continuity and contingencies: plans for closures, equipment failures and extreme events
  • 7.10. Efficiency indicators: productivity, turn time, dwell time, OTIF and operational benchmarking
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Port environmental management, climate resilience and nature-based solutions for blue infrastructure

  • 8.1. Main environmental impacts: water quality, noise, air, biodiversity and sediments
  • 8.2. Environmental assessment of projects: baseline, impact identification, measures and follow-up
  • 8.3. Climate resilience: sea level rise, extreme waves, flooding and adaptation criteria
  • 8.4. Emissions and energy control: electrification, OPS/cold ironing, efficiency and footprint monitoring
  • 8.5. Waste and spill management: plans, equipment, response and operational training
  • 8.6. Nature-based solutions: wetlands, artificial reefs, dunes, living shorelines and their performance
  • 8.7. Underwater noise management: sources, measurement, mitigation and compliance
  • 8.8. Continuous environmental monitoring: sensors, telemetry, QA/QC and reporting
  • 8.9. Permits and compliance: obligations, audits and document traceability
  • 8.10. Integrated environmental plan for the port: governance, KPIs, continuous improvement and communication with the community
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 9

EPC project management, contracting and cost control in port infrastructure: risks, schedules, QA/QC and claims

  • 9.1. Project structuring: scope, WBS, milestones and execution strategy
  • 9.2. Contract models: EPC, design-build, unit-price contracts, alliances and risk allocation
  • 9.3. Cost estimating and control: CAPEX/OPEX, contingencies, S-curves and variance control
  • 9.4. Planning and scheduling: CPM, line of balance, constraints and management of site interfaces
  • 9.5. Project risk management: register, mitigation, reserves and contingency triggers
  • 9.6. QA/QC of civil and marine works: ITPs, inspections, tests and release of work fronts
  • 9.7. HSE in port construction: permits, LOTO, marine work, critical lifts and fatigue control
  • 9.8. Change management and configuration control: RFIs, NCRs, submittals and decision traceability
  • 9.9. Claims and disputes: delay and productivity analysis, evidence and technical negotiation
  • 9.10. Commissioning and handover: dossiers, as-built records, O&M manuals and transition to operation
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 10

Port digitalization, instrumentation and infrastructure digital twins: structural monitoring, data and OT cybersecurity

  • 10.1. Digital architecture of the port: SCADA/IoT, OT networks, telemetry and system hierarchy
  • 10.2. Structural health monitoring (SHM): sensors, deformations, vibration, corrosion and alarm criteria
  • 10.3. Technical data management: models, metadata, traceability, data quality and information governance
  • 10.4. Infrastructure digital twin: BIM/GIS models, calibration with real data and operational use cases
  • 10.5. Predictive analytics for maintenance: risk-based inspection, prioritization and optimization of interventions
  • 10.6. Integration with operations: dashboards, KPIs, alarms and real-time decision support
  • 10.7. Interoperability and standards: APIs, formats, BIM-CMMS-TOS integration and version control
  • 10.8. OT/IT cybersecurity: segmentation, hardening, access control, monitoring and incident response
  • 10.9. Digital business continuity: redundancy, backups, DRP/BCP and recovery testing
  • 10.10. Digital transformation roadmap: prioritization, ROI, change management and adoption by critical users
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 11

Final Project

  • 11.1. Choosing the topic and defining the research problem
  • 11.2. Setting objectives, hypotheses and the scope of the work
  • 11.3. Review of the state of the art and the specialized literature
  • 11.4. Analysis of the applicable regulatory and technical framework
  • 11.5. Designing the methodology and the work plan
  • 11.6. Collecting, processing and validating data
  • 11.7. Technical development and analysis of results
  • 11.8. Discussion, conclusions and future lines of work
  • 11.9. Writing the report in line with academic standards
  • 11.10. Presentation and public defense before the panel
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering

It is 1,500 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
29
months to finish
125 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 Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering

01Design and optimize port terminals, assessing the technical and economic feasibility of projects in terms of capacity, performance, safety and environmental sustainability, with a focus on cargo flow and shorter waiting times.
02Manage and maintain port operability, supervising loading and unloading operations in line with safety and efficiency rules, minimizing downtime and optimizing the flow of goods within the port area.
03Assess and mitigate the environmental impact of ports by implementing waste and discharge management plans that reduce water and soil pollution and promote the circular economy.
04Lead port expansion and modernization projects, defining scope, managing budgets and schedules and coordinating multidisciplinary teams and key stakeholders to get the most from each investment.
05Develop engineering solutions for port sustainability, applying MARPOL waste management and energy optimization strategies and assessing their impact with modeling tools and life cycle assessment (LCA).
06Implement innovative technologies in port management, such as advanced vessel traffic services (VTS) with predictive risk analysis and route optimization, integrated with drones for real-time inspection and monitoring.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering

01Port infrastructure designerplanning, design and calculation of quays, breakwaters, rock revetments and other maritime structures.
02Project leaderend-to-end management of port construction or upgrade projects, from design through execution and commissioning.
03Port engineering consultanttechnical advice on feasibility studies, risk analysis and design optimization for port projects.
04Infrastructure maintenance managerplanning and supervision of preventive and corrective maintenance to keep port facilities operational and safe.
05Hydraulic and maritime modeling specialistsimulation of water behavior in port settings to optimize designs and predict environmental impacts.
06Port manageradministration and operation of ports, including capacity planning, traffic management and coordination of services.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in Port Infrastructure Engineering

Port infrastructure engineering: the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of ports, breakwaters, channels, quays and terminals.

The port sector and the maritime industries around it: port authorities, terminal operators, engineering consultancies and marine construction companies.

Yes. Dedicated modules cover port geotechnics and ground improvement, breakwaters and armor units, and the structural design of quays, piers and yards, including durability, fatigue, fenders and bollards.

Yes. One module covers EPC and design-build contracts, cost estimating and control, scheduling, risk registers, QA/QC, HSE in port construction, claims and handover.

Yes. A related degree or professional experience in construction, infrastructure or port operations is enough; the admission interview confirms that the program suits your profile.

Through practical cases and exercises in each module and a Final Project in which you develop a port infrastructure study, presented before a panel.

A master's issued by Navalis Institute, together with the designs, analyses and project documents you develop during the program.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7 with live sessions that are recorded, forums and tutorials. It comprises 1500 hours of study across 11 modules of about 136 hours each.

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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 civil engineers, architects and construction professionals who want to lead large port projects, port managers and logistics operators, technical consultants, public administration officials and port authority staff, and graduates in engineering and related sciences. A degree in civil engineering, architecture or a related field, or demonstrable professional experience in construction or infrastructure management, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection and, ideally, software to view drawings and BIM models.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
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    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $1,336 deposit

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