Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course
This course gives you the tools to lead effectively and manage stress in demanding maritime environments. You will learn to recognize and regulate your emotions during watches and long voyages, to communicate clearly in multicultural and hierarchical crews, to manage fatigue and operational stress, to resolve conflicts on board before they escalate and to apply emotional intelligence to command, decision-making and the safety culture of the vessel.
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 Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course?
This short course applies emotional intelligence to the realities of life and work at sea. You will study how emotions affect safety, performance and coexistence on board, emotional self-awareness and regulation during watches and shifts, the human factors behind maritime stress such as fatigue, isolation and monotony, active listening, assertiveness and closed-loop communication, stress physiology and self-regulation techniques, individual and team resilience, mediation and de-escalation of conflicts, and the role of emotional leadership in briefings, debriefings and decisions under adverse conditions.
What sets this course apart: content designed specifically for crews, officers and shore staff rather than generic office settings; practical tools you can apply from the first day, such as tactical breathing, cognitive reframing and closed-loop communication; attention to multicultural crews and hierarchical structures; a module on conflict, mediation and protection against harassment and discrimination on board; and an integrating project in which you design a plan to improve climate and performance on a vessel or team.
Program highlights
- Emotional intelligence and safety culture: impact on performance and coexistence.
- Communication on board: active listening, assertiveness and closed-loop messages.
- Stress and fatigue: self-regulation techniques and sustainable performance.
- Resilience: post-incident recovery and psychologically safe teams.
- Conflict and mediation: early intervention and de-escalation of intense emotions.
- Integrating project: a plan to improve climate and performance on board.
Syllabus of the Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of emotional intelligence applied to life on board and safety culture
- 1.1. Emotional intelligence in maritime environments: impact on safety, performance, service and coexistence
- 1.2. Emotional self-awareness during watches and shifts: identifying states, triggers and early warning signs
- 1.3. Basic emotional regulation: impulse control, frustration tolerance and calm decision-making
- 1.4. Maritime stress and human factors: fatigue, isolation, monotony, operational pressure and cognitive load
- 1.5. Habits for emotional stability: sleep, routines, nutrition, recovery and micro-habits at sea
Effective emotional communication in multicultural crews and hierarchical environments
- 2.1. Active listening on board: understanding, rephrasing, validating and closing operational agreements
- 2.2. Professional assertiveness: asking, saying no, setting limits and correcting without escalating conflict
- 2.3. Feedback and feedforward: models, evidence, tone, follow-up and preventing resentment
- 2.4. Communication under pressure: short messages, prioritization, closed-loop confirmation and clarity in a crisis
- 2.5. Multiculturalism and languages: differences in style, typical misunderstandings and building shared norms
Operational stress management, resilience and sustainable performance on long voyages
- 3.1. Stress physiology and performance: the arousal curve, attentional focus and impaired judgment
- 3.2. Self-regulation techniques: tactical breathing, cognitive reframing and behavioral anchors
- 3.3. Managing fatigue and shifts: sleep hygiene, micro-breaks, rotations and error prevention
- 3.4. Individual resilience: post-incident recovery, tolerance of uncertainty and adaptive learning
- 3.5. Team resilience: cohesion, peer support, close leadership and a psychologically safe climate
Conflict, coexistence and team unity: early intervention and functional mediation
- 4.1. Coexistence dynamics on board: common frictions, roles, micro-conflicts and escalation
- 4.2. Interest-based conflict management: negotiation, options, concessions and verifiable agreements
- 4.3. Operational mediation: structure, neutrality, ground rules, documentation and follow-up
- 4.4. Handling intense emotions: anger, fear, anxiety and shame, with de-escalation techniques
- 4.5. Socially harmful behavior: harassment, humiliation, discrimination and internal protection mechanisms
Emotional intelligence for officers and integrating project to improve climate and performance
- 5.1. Emotional leadership: influence, example, consistency and managing the team's state during operations
- 5.2. Decision-making in adverse conditions: biases, time pressure and the officer's emotional control
- 5.3. Communication and climate protocols: briefings, debriefings, coordination routines and rules of coexistence
- 5.4. Indicators and evaluation: communication-related incidents, turnover, conflicts, absenteeism and early signs
- 5.5. Intervention plans: in-house training, coaching of watch teams, support and continuous improvement
Duration and format of the Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course
It is 300 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 Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course
Career opportunities after the Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course
Questions about the Maritime Emotional Intelligence Course
Self-awareness, self-management (especially stress management and adaptability), social awareness and interpersonal skills, because work at sea is often isolated, demanding and high-pressure.
No. It is useful for officers, ratings, cruise staff, trainers and shore-based personnel who work with crews.
Practical. It combines short explanations with techniques you can apply from the first day and analysis of situations typical of life on board.
Yes. It addresses fatigue, sleep hygiene, rotations and the effect of stress on judgment and error.
You design an intervention plan to improve the climate and performance of a crew or team, with indicators, communication protocols and follow-up actions.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an integrating project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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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 masters and officers who want to improve team management and conflict resolution on board, shore staff in shipping companies and maritime agencies who work closely with crews, maritime instructors and trainers, auditors and safety managers seeking to reduce human-factor incidents, and any maritime professional who wants to lead more effectively; no specific qualification is required, and professional experience in the maritime sector (fishing, transport or leisure) is useful.
- 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.
- 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.