Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules
Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical Engineering
This master's offers comprehensive training in the design, operation and maintenance of shipboard mechanical systems. It goes deep into the latest propulsion, power generation and automation technologies, fluid networks, materials and vibration control, so you can meet the challenges of the modern maritime industry, simulate and analyze failures, and optimize the performance, reliability and efficiency of ships and offshore units.
Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
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About the program
What is the Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical Engineering?
This master's looks at the ship as a complete mechanical system. You will study how propulsion, auxiliaries, machinery services and life support are integrated and how class requirements, operating profiles and life cycle shape their design; applied thermodynamics, two- and four-stroke diesel engines, gas turbines, hybrid plants, alternative fuels and heat recovery; shaft lines, propellers, gearboxes, waterjets, pods and thrusters; internal flow, piping networks, pumps, ballast and bilge systems, compressed air, water hammer and valves; materials, tribology, fatigue, corrosion and failure analysis; vibration, noise, balancing and alignment; automation, instrumentation, power management, digital twins and OT cybersecurity; installation, commissioning and quality assurance in the shipyard and in retrofits; and reliability-centered maintenance and asset management.
What sets this master's apart: rather than focusing on the engine alone, it covers every mechanical discipline on board, from fluid networks and materials science to vibration, automation and shipyard QA/QC, and the interfaces between them; it gives full modules to failure analysis, dynamic behavior and RCM, FMECA and RBI so that you can manage critical assets with a risk-based approach; it includes an integrated engineering project in which you develop and validate a complete mechanical solution; and it closes with a Final Project that applies research methods to a real problem in marine mechanical engineering.
Program typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December
Program highlights
- Integrated view of the ship's mechanical architecture: propulsion, auxiliaries, machinery services and life cycle design.
- Marine power plants: diesel engines, gas turbines, hybrid systems, alternative fuels, heat recovery and emissions.
- Fluid systems on board: piping design, pumps and NPSH, ballast and bilge, compressed air, water hammer and valves.
- Materials, tribology, fatigue, corrosion and failure analysis for components in aggressive marine environments.
- Vibration, noise, balancing and alignment, plus automation, power management, digital twins and OT cybersecurity.
- Shipyard installation, commissioning and QA/QC, risk-based maintenance and asset management, and a Final Project.
Syllabus
Syllabus of the Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical Engineering
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Module 1
Advanced foundations of marine mechanical engineering, propulsion architecture and design requirements
- 1.1. Evolution of marine mechanical engineering: ship types, operating profiles and current design demands
- 1.2. Mechanical architecture of the ship: integrating propulsion, auxiliaries, machinery services and life support systems
- 1.3. Functional, operational and class requirements: performance, safety, maintainability and in-service availability
- 1.4. Mechanical loads in the marine environment: vibration, fatigue, corrosion, shock and transient conditions
- 1.5. Selecting propulsion configurations: conventional shafting, CPP/FPP, waterjets, pods and hybrid systems
- 1.6. Marine mechanical design criteria: efficiency, redundancy, accessibility, modularity and risk management
- 1.7. Interaction between disciplines: interfaces with naval architecture, electrical systems, automation and structures
- 1.8. Life cycle design philosophy: construction, operation, maintenance, retrofit and decommissioning
- 1.9. Technical specifications, data sheets and requirements control in complex marine mechanical projects
- 1.10. Technical case workshop: defining the vessel, mission, operating envelope and performance targets
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 2
Applied thermodynamics, marine engines and advanced energy conversion systems
- 2.1. Thermodynamics applied to marine installations: mass and energy balances, irreversibilities and overall efficiency
- 2.2. Two- and four-stroke marine diesel engines: architecture, combustion, performance and selection criteria
- 2.3. Gas turbines and naval combined cycles: applications, operational advantages and integration limits
- 2.4. Hybrid and electrified systems: generators, batteries, power management and multi-mode operating strategies
- 2.5. Conventional and alternative marine fuels: HFO, MGO, LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen
- 2.6. Thermal management and heat recovery: economizers, WHR, cogeneration and integrated energy optimization
- 2.7. Emissions and environmental performance: NOx, SOx, CO2, particulates and mitigation strategies
- 2.8. Transient conditions, part load and dynamic response of propulsion plants under variable operation
- 2.9. Engine instrumentation and advanced performance analysis: critical parameters, derating and operational diagnostics
- 2.10. Technical and economic comparison criteria for marine power plants across mission profiles
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 3
Propulsion systems, shaft lines, propellers and maneuvering devices
- 3.1. Shaft line configuration: components, alignment, supports, bearings and critical couplings
- 3.2. Marine propellers: geometry, cavitation, induced vibration and selection by thrust and efficiency requirements
- 3.3. Fixed and controllable pitch propulsion: mechanical architecture, control and comparative performance
- 3.4. Waterjets, azimuth thrusters and pods: operating principles, structural integration and operating envelopes
- 3.5. Marine gearboxes and transmissions: reduction ratios, torsional loads and reliability criteria
- 3.6. Stern tube sealing and dynamic watertightness: selection, recurring failures and maintenance
- 3.7. Tunnel thrusters and maneuvering devices: bow and stern thrusters and coordination with steering systems
- 3.8. Torsional and axial vibration of the drive train: modeling, mitigation and test validation
- 3.9. Sea trials and propulsion performance verification: power, thrust, consumption and maneuvering response
- 3.10. Comprehensive propulsion failure diagnosis: wear, cavitation, misalignment and in-service degradation
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 4
Fluid mechanics, pumping systems and hydraulic and pneumatic networks on ships and offshore units
- 4.1. Advanced internal flow in marine systems: head losses, transients and multiphase flow
- 4.2. Shipboard piping design: materials, routing, supports, thermal expansion and service compatibility
- 4.3. Marine pumps and hydraulic selection: centrifugal, volumetric, submersible and NPSH criteria
- 4.4. Ballast, bilge, stripping and transfer systems: architecture, safety and operating logic
- 4.5. Fuel, lubrication and cooling systems: functional integration and operational reliability control
- 4.6. Compressed air networks, control pneumatics and auxiliary services for automation and safety
- 4.7. Water hammer, cavitation and hydraulic transients: modeling, protection and damage prevention
- 4.8. Valves, actuators and flow control elements: types, fail-safe design and maintenance strategies
- 4.9. Instrumentation and monitoring of fluid networks: flow, pressure, temperature and anomaly detection
- 4.10. Energy optimization of auxiliary fluid systems: pumping efficiency, VFDs and demand management
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 5
Materials, tribology, fatigue and durability of marine mechanical components
- 5.1. Selecting metallic and non-metallic materials for marine machinery: mechanical, thermal and environmental criteria
- 5.2. Applied tribology: friction, wear, lubrication and surface behavior in critical components
- 5.3. High- and low-cycle fatigue in marine mechanical systems: variable loads, vibration and stress concentrators
- 5.4. Corrosion, erosion and corrosion fatigue: combined degradation mechanisms in saline environments
- 5.5. Heat and surface treatments: hardening, overlays, technical coatings and service life extension
- 5.6. Materials for high temperature and pressure: selection for engines, exhausts, boilers and turbomachinery
- 5.7. Polymers, elastomers and composites in marine mechanical systems: seals, hoses, mounts and special applications
- 5.8. Mechanical failure analysis: fractography, metallography, root cause and correlation with operating conditions
- 5.9. Service life models and damage tolerance: renewal criteria, margins and life extension
- 5.10. Degradation mitigation strategies: design, monitoring, lubrication and condition-based maintenance
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 6
Vibration, noise, alignment, balancing and dynamic control of marine machinery
- 6.1. Machine dynamics applied to marine installations: degrees of freedom, resonance and damping
- 6.2. Vibration in engines, turbomachinery and shaft lines: sources, transmission and structural effects
- 6.3. Static and dynamic balancing of marine rotors: methods, tolerances and instrumented verification
- 6.4. Alignment of shafts and rotating machinery: procedures, tolerances, deformation and thermal control
- 6.5. Structure-borne and airborne noise on board: sources, transmission paths and mitigation strategies
- 6.6. Vibration isolation and resilient mounts: selection, modeling and in-service validation
- 6.7. Measurement and diagnostic techniques: accelerometry, spectral analysis, orbits, phase and condition trending
- 6.8. Machine-structure-hull interaction: dynamic coupling and effects on performance and habitability
- 6.9. Acceptance criteria and class limits: vibration, noise and comfort on different ship types
- 6.10. Continuous dynamic condition monitoring programs: alarms, thresholds and technical decision-making
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 7
Automation, control, instrumentation and intelligent systems for high-availability marine plants
- 7.1. Engine room automation architecture: PLC, DCS, IAS and the onboard control hierarchy
- 7.2. Sensors, transmitters and critical instrumentation: pressure, temperature, vibration, level, flow and position
- 7.3. Control loops in marine mechanical systems: fuel, lubrication, cooling and speed control
- 7.4. Power management and load sharing on conventional and hybrid ships
- 7.5. Alarms, interlocks and protection logic: fail-safe philosophy and critical automatic sequences
- 7.6. Integrating machinery, automation and electrical systems for coordinated operation
- 7.7. Remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and data analytics applied to marine machinery
- 7.8. Digital twins and performance modeling: operational simulation, advanced diagnostics and decision support
- 7.9. OT cybersecurity in marine mechanical and control systems: segmentation, access and incident response
- 7.10. Validation, FAT/SAT testing and commissioning of marine machinery automation
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 8
Construction, installation, commissioning and quality assurance of marine mechanical systems in shipyards and retrofits
- 8.1. Engineering for fabrication and installation: breakdowns, tolerances, sequences and work packages
- 8.2. Installing main and auxiliary machinery: leveling, chocking and grout, alignment and dimensional control
- 8.3. Installing piping, valves and supports: procedures, cleaning, flushing and tightness testing
- 8.4. Mechanical commissioning: functional checks, cold and hot testing and preparation for sea trials
- 8.5. Shipyard QA/QC: inspection and test plans, traceability, materials control and nonconformity management
- 8.6. Integrating mechanical retrofits: space constraints, existing interfaces and continuity of service
- 8.7. Industrial safety in marine installation work: lifting, confined spaces, hazardous energy and permits to work
- 8.8. Change management and configuration control: deviations, concessions and updating technical documentation
- 8.9. Harbor and sea acceptance tests: performance, alarms, vibration, consumption and reliability
- 8.10. Technical handover: dossiers, O&M manuals, spare parts lists and operator training
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 9
Reliability, advanced maintenance and risk-based management of marine mechanical assets
- 9.1. Maintenance strategies: corrective, preventive, predictive, proactive and reliability-centered
- 9.2. RCM, FMECA and RBI applied to marine machinery: criticality, functional failures and resource prioritization
- 9.3. Fleet maintenance planning: operating windows, dry docking, spare parts and logistics coordination
- 9.4. Condition-based diagnostics: vibration, oil analysis, thermography, ultrasound and performance monitoring
- 9.5. Failure management and advanced troubleshooting: diagnostic sequence, root cause and technical close-out
- 9.6. MTBF, MTTR, availability and backlog: KPIs for advanced mechanical asset management
- 9.7. Spare parts and obsolescence management: criticality, approval, minimum stock and OEM agreements
- 9.8. Life extension and retrofit of mechanical systems: technical, economic and regulatory criteria
- 9.9. Digital maintenance: CMMS/EAM, mobility, traceability and analytics for O&M optimization
- 9.10. Technical asset governance: audits, lessons learned and continuous improvement of the maintenance system
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 10
Innovation, sustainability, regulation and integrated engineering project
- 10.1. Emerging trends in marine mechanical engineering: electrification, hydrogen, ammonia, automation and advanced propulsion
- 10.2. Regulatory and classification requirements: technical compliance, safety, emissions and engineering documentation
- 10.3. Decarbonizing marine machinery: efficiency, alternative fuels, energy optimization and green retrofits
- 10.4. Technical and economic evaluation of advanced mechanical solutions: CAPEX, OPEX, risks and return on investment
- 10.5. Building sustainability and resilience into marine mechanical design: climate adaptation and operational robustness
- 10.6. Comparative analysis of real cases: merchant ships, offshore units, defense vessels, ferries and specialized craft
- 10.7. Framing the integrated project: asset definition, mission, requirements, constraints and performance targets
- 10.8. Developing the mechanical solution: architecture, calculations, equipment selection, reliability and operating strategy
- 10.9. Technical validation of the project: KPIs, risks, maintainability, regulatory compliance and commissioning plan
- 10.10. Presenting and defending the integrated project: technical report, engineering appendices and implementation roadmap
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your paceModule 11
Final Project
- 11.1. Choosing the topic and framing the research problem
- 11.2. Formulating objectives, hypotheses and scope
- 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. Data collection, processing and validation
- 11.7. Technical development and analysis of results
- 11.8. Discussion, conclusions and future lines of work
- 11.9. Writing the final report to academic standards
- 11.10. Public presentation and defense before an evaluation panel
At this stage
136 hestimated workload11 wkweeks at your pacePlan your pace
Duration and format of the Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical 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.
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
Objectives of the Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical Engineering
01Design and optimize efficient ship propulsion systems, evaluating hybrid and electric architectures, selecting components and simulating performance under different operating conditions to save energy and reduce emissions.
02Manage predictive maintenance of critical marine machinery, applying vibration analysis, thermography and oil analysis to anticipate failures, plan shutdowns and cut repair costs.
03Lead modernization and continuous improvement projects on ships and marine facilities, adapting Lean and Six Sigma methods to optimize processes and minimize downtime.
04Develop and implement energy efficiency solutions on board, using advanced energy management systems to monitor consumption in real time and optimize equipment operation.
05Assess and mitigate operational and safety risks, applying HAZID and HAZOP and preparing contingency plans for fire, collision and spills.
06Diagnose and solve complex problems in marine mechanical systems, reading technical drawings, performing nondestructive testing and applying failure analysis to main and auxiliary machinery.
Careers
Career opportunities after the Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Master's in Advanced Marine Mechanical Engineering
Marine mechanical engineering: the machinery, propulsion, fluid systems, materials, dynamics and automation of ships and offshore units, viewed as an integrated system.
Propulsion is one part of the program. This master's also gives full modules to fluid networks, materials and fatigue, vibration and noise, shipyard installation and commissioning, and risk-based asset management.
Yes. You work with performance modeling, vibration and transient analysis, digital twins and technical cases in which you calculate, select equipment and validate a mechanical solution.
The program is online, with multimedia resources, real-world case studies and live sessions, designed so you can combine it with your job.
Yes. The program suits engineers in shipyards, design offices, classification societies, shipping companies and offshore operators, as well as graduates with a related degree. The admission interview confirms your fit.
Through technical exercises, case analyses, short module tests, the integrated engineering project and the Final Project.
A Navalis Institute master's certificate and a portfolio of engineering work, including calculations, diagnostics, maintenance plans and your Final Project.
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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: degree in mechanical, naval or industrial engineering or a related field, or proven professional experience in the marine sector; a grounding in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and strength of materials is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: computer with a stable internet connection, microphone and webcam for the 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.
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