Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector
Learn to identify, assess and manage climate risk in ports, terminals and shipping companies, from hazards through to adaptation and disclosure. A private online professional programme with a Navalis Institute certificate.
Prior knowledge check
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What is the Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector?
The Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector prepares you to identify, assess and manage climate risk in ports, terminals, shipping companies and maritime logistics chains. You will learn to analyse hazards such as sea-level rise, storms and extreme heat, to combine climate scenarios with exposure and vulnerability data, and to turn the results into adaptation plans, investment decisions and disclosure reports aligned with international frameworks.
It stands out for its sector-specific focus, designed for ports, terminals and shipping companies, and for a complete methodology that brings hazard, exposure, vulnerability and risk together in a single workflow. You will work with open climate data such as Copernicus and IPCC projections, and apply it in a final case study assessing the risk of a port facility.
Programme highlights
- Sector focus: content designed for ports, terminals and shipping companies.
- Complete methodology: hazard, exposure, vulnerability and risk in a single workflow.
- Open climate data: use of services such as Copernicus and IPCC projections.
- From science to decision: adaptation, investment and financial disclosure.
- Case study: risk assessment of a port facility.
- Boost your career: open doors to port authorities, shipping companies, insurers and consultancies.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Climate and Risk in the Maritime Environment
- 1.1. Climate change and the maritime sector
- 1.2. Concepts of hazard, exposure and vulnerability
- 1.3. Physical risks and transition risks
- 1.4. Extreme events and gradual changes
- 1.5. IPCC scenarios
- 1.6. Available climate services
- 1.7. Uncertainty in projections
- 1.8. International reference frameworks
Marine Climate Hazards
- 2.1. Sea-level rise
- 2.2. Storm surges and storms
- 2.3. Changes in wave climate
- 2.4. Extreme wind
- 2.5. Extreme heat and its effect on operations
- 2.6. Intense rainfall and drainage
- 2.7. Sedimentation and morphological change
- 2.8. Sea ice and new routes
Port Exposure and Vulnerability
- 3.1. Port asset inventory
- 3.2. Quays, breakwaters and yards
- 3.3. Cargo-handling equipment
- 3.4. Energy and critical services
- 3.5. Land access and intermodality
- 3.6. People and occupational safety
- 3.7. Dependencies and cascading effects
- 3.8. Vulnerability matrices
Risk for Navigation and Shipping Companies
- 4.1. Routes and metocean conditions
- 4.2. Delays and downtime
- 4.3. Ship and cargo safety
- 4.4. Draught and access restrictions
- 4.5. Maritime supply chains
- 4.6. Risk at ports of call
- 4.7. Marine insurance
- 4.8. Fleet operational planning
Quantitative Risk Assessment
- 5.1. Data and information sources
- 5.2. Return periods and probability
- 5.3. Damage curves
- 5.4. Estimation of expected losses
- 5.5. Analysis of operational disruption
- 5.6. Risk mapping with GIS
- 5.7. Sensitivity analysis
- 5.8. Presentation of results
Adaptation and Resilience
- 6.1. Adaptation strategies
- 6.2. Structural measures
- 6.3. Operational and management measures
- 6.4. Nature-based solutions
- 6.5. Phased adaptation and adaptive pathways
- 6.6. Cost-benefit analysis
- 6.7. Financing adaptation
- 6.8. International sector guidance
Climate Risk Governance and Disclosure
- 7.1. Climate-related disclosure
- 7.2. TCFD recommendations and ISSB standards
- 7.3. Risk management at board level
- 7.4. Investor and lender requirements
- 7.5. Port and climate planning
- 7.6. Coordination with authorities
- 7.7. Communication with users and the community
- 7.8. Monitoring and review
Case Study: Climate Risk Assessment of a Port
- 8.1. Defining the scope
- 8.2. Selecting scenarios
- 8.3. Hazard analysis
- 8.4. Asset inventory and exposure
- 8.5. Vulnerability assessment
- 8.6. Risk calculation
- 8.7. Adaptation proposal
- 8.8. Final report
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector
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 instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. 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
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Climate Risks for the Maritime and Port Sector
No. The programme is suited to both technical and management profiles, and provides the grounding needed to understand the analyses.
Yes. You work with open climate services and projections based on IPCC scenarios.
Yes. It covers the most widely used climate risk disclosure frameworks.
They are introduced, although the main focus is physical risk to infrastructure and operations.
A climate risk assessment of a port, with a proposal of adaptation measures.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, recorded live sessions and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme has a workload of 800 hours. You can progress at your own pace within the calendar given to you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by the admissions team when you request information.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: a degree in Engineering, Marine Sciences, Nautical Studies, Environmental Sciences, Economics or a related field; or professional experience in ports, maritime transport, insurance or consultancy.
- Language: sufficient command of the language of instruction to follow classes and materials; basic technical English is recommended, as much of the sector's regulation and documentation is published in English.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project defences.
- 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.
- 03EnrolmentChoose 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 enrol
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.