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Master’s degree · Climate and oceanographyMaster's in Circularity and Ship Recycling
This master's programme equips you to lead the sustainable transformation of the maritime industry with circular economy strategies. You will work with hazardous materials inventories, recycling processes and material loops, including the legal framework and the economics involved.
100% online1,500 hours11 modulesTaught in EnglishEnrol any time
What is this programme?
This master's degree prepares you to lead the sustainable transformation of the maritime industry. You will learn to apply circular economy strategies, optimise waste management and master ship recycling techniques while complying with the most demanding environmental regulations. The aim is for you to design innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact and increase the value of maritime resources.
The programme stands out for its end-to-end approach, from eco-efficient design to responsible dismantling; its real case studies, analysing projects and solutions already implemented in the industry; its coverage of innovative technologies and recent trends in recycling and materials management; and its command of the national and international environmental regulatory framework.
Programme highlights
- Command of the circular economy: strategies to optimise resources and reduce waste in the maritime sector.
- Expertise in ship recycling: advanced recycling techniques and their application to vessel dismantling.
- Sustainability and regulation: in-depth study of environmental regulation and good practice.
- Innovation and development: research and new technologies for circularity.
- Sector leadership: preparation to lead the transition to a circular model in maritime companies.
- Career boost: advance your career and contribute to a more sustainable future for the maritime industry.
Study plan
01International Legal Framework, Environmental Conventions and Ship Recycling Regulation136 h
Historical evolution of shipbreaking, from vulnerable beaches to the modern industry; the Hong Kong International Convention: entry into force, scope, requirements for ships, yards and certificates; EU Regulation 1257/2013 (EU SRR): Community requirements, the European List of facilities and the penalty regime; the Basel Convention and its Ban Amendment applied to end-of-life ships; MARPOL in the retirement phase: hazardous waste, bilges, slops and refrigerant gases; the IMO BWM Convention on the final voyage to the recycling facility; EU environmental liability and due diligence directives: implications for owners, charterers and financiers; governance and regulatory differences: comparative analysis of Europe, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Turkey; ILO conventions on worker safety and health in recycling yards; the EU Sustainable Taxonomy and ESG indicators: impact on reputation and corporate reporting.
02Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM): Development, Verification and Maintenance136 h
Concept and structure of the IHM: parts I (materials in the structure), II (operational waste) and III (stores); prohibited and restricted substances: asbestos, PCBs, organotins, flame retardants, CFCs and others; inspection methodology and onboard sampling plan, with inspector safety; laboratory analytical techniques: gas chromatography, XRF, Raman and microscopy; material declarations and supplier declarations of conformity in newbuilding; dynamic updating of Part I during repairs, conversions and maintenance; IHM audits and certification by classification societies; digitalisation: software platforms, QR/RFID marking and spare parts traceability; Parts II and III for the final voyage: oils, sludge, chemicals, paints and stores; pre-recycling survey and issue of the international ready-for-recycling certificate.
03Ship Eco-design, Sustainable Architecture and Design for Disassembly136 h
Principles of eco-design and life cycle assessment from the ship concept stage; design for disassembly: modularity and mechanical joints versus permanent welds; low-impact, highly recyclable materials: green steel, aluminium, bio-based resins and thermoplastics; substitution of hazardous materials in the design: insulation, gaskets, paints and coatings; general arrangement that facilitates dismantling; the Digital Ship Passport, BIM integration and the digital twin; standardisation of components for reuse on the secondary market; design for decontamination: drains, line purging and waste extraction; carbon footprint of construction versus recycling, and emissions avoided with secondary steel; zero-emission ships: recyclability of lithium batteries, hydrogen tanks and rigid sails.
04Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Impact Assessment in the Maritime Sector136 h
Fundamentals of LCA under ISO 14040 and ISO 14044: goals, scope and boundaries; life cycle inventory in shipyards: raw materials, energy, water, emissions and waste; impact assessment: acidification, eutrophication, resource depletion and global warming; Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and Product Category Rules (PCR); LCA software: SimaPro and GaBi/OpenLCA; carbon and water footprints of the dismantling process; ecotoxic impact on marine and coastal environments: heavy metals, hydrocarbons and microplastics; comparison of repair and life extension versus recycling and newbuilding; environmental cost-benefit of clean cutting techniques: plasma, ultra-high-pressure water and oxy-fuel cutting; sustainability indicators in social responsibility reports and investor reporting.
05Ship Recycling Plan (SRP) and Sustainable Dismantling Operations136 h
Preparing the Ship Recycling Plan: structure, cutting sequence and approval; risk assessment before dismantling: collapses, dropped loads, explosions and falls; landing methods: beaching, alongside at quay, dry dock and floating ramps; prior decontamination: tank inerting, gas-freeing and safe atmosphere; removal of hazardous materials: asbestos, PCBs, mercury and flame retardants; cutting and shredding techniques: oxy-fuel cutting, guillotines, shears and diamond wire cutting; control of stability, watertightness and structural strength during dismantling; heavy machinery and lifting operations; management of liquid waste and spill prevention; issue of the final certificate of completion of recycling.
06Safety, Occupational Health and Environmental Management in Ship Recycling Facilities (SRF)136 h
Design and set-up of a recycling facility in line with international standards; safety and health management systems (ISO 45001 and ILO conventions); permits for confined space and hot work, and gas-free certification; respiratory protection and PPE against asbestos, welding fumes and toxic vapours; emergency plans: fires, explosions, falls into the sea, collapses and spills; environmental monitoring of air, soil and water; occupational health: medical examinations, control of lead and asbestos exposure, and epidemiological records; ergonomics and injury prevention in cutting and manual lifting; ongoing training and certification of worker competence; audits for inclusion on the European List of yards.
07Circular Economy, Materials Recovery and Maritime Secondary Markets136 h
Principles of the circular economy in the maritime industry: from build, use and discard to regeneration; ferrous scrap: steel segregation and remelting in electric arc furnaces; non-ferrous metals: copper, brass, bronze, aluminium and titanium; the secondary market for machinery and navigation equipment: reconditioning and recertification; remanufacturing of large mechanical components, with warranty; plastics, rubber and elastomers: mechanical and chemical recycling; recovery of furniture, stores, timber and textiles: auctions, donations and reuse; traceability and certification of recycled materials, including the carbon footprint of secondary steel; circular business models: servitisation, component leasing and exchange platforms; supply and demand for ship scrap and the effect of steel prices on profitability.
08Integrated Management Systems (ISO 14001, ISO 30000, ISO 9001) and Auditing136 h
The ISO 30000:2009 standard for ship recycling management in facilities; integration of ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 in recycling yards; planning the integrated system: significant environmental aspects and legal requirements; operational control of waste: storage, labelling, transport and waste contractors; internal and external audits: checklists, interviews and evidence; non-conformities and corrective and preventive actions, with root cause analysis; key indicators: recyclability rate, energy consumption and accident rate; management review and continuous improvement; sustainability reporting under GRI and SASB; accredited certification of the facility and its maintenance.
09Green Finance, Reputational Risk and End-of-Life Ship Valuation Models136 h
Economic valuation for scrapping (LDT): scrap price, deductions and margin; ship finance and green recycling clauses in loan agreements; the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative: voluntary disclosure of scrapping policies; sustainable finance and the Poseidon Principles across the whole life cycle; sale contracts for recycling (BIMCO SALEFORM and DEMOLISHCON); cash buyers, cash purchases and flagging for the final voyage; insurance: P&I cover for the final voyage, hull and machinery, and environmental liability; reputational risk and NGO campaigns, with their financial cost; sustainable ship recycling funds financed by port dues; life cycle financial modelling and the optimal timing for scrapping.
10Integrating Project: Master Plan for Green Recycling, Eco-design and Circular Management of a Fleet136 h
Selection and characterisation of the ship or fleet under study: type, LDT and operating profile; full development of the IHM: sampling plan, substance codes and Part I; eco-design analysis and circular retrofitting proposals; LCA assessment of the retirement process: emissions, energy and carbon footprint; detailed Ship Recycling Plan: cutting sequence, weights, stability and fire protection; hazardous materials and waste management plan, with authorised contractors; evaluation of the recycling facility and occupational safety plan; financial model, DEMOLISHCON contract and green clauses; communication, transparency and ESG reporting under SRTI; presentation and defence of the project before a panel of experts.
11Master's Final Project in Circularity and Ship Recycling136 h
Choice of topic and definition of the research problem; formulation of objectives, hypotheses and scope; review of the state of the art and the literature; analysis of the regulatory and technical framework; design of the methodology and work plan; data collection, processing and validation; technical development and analysis of results; discussion, conclusions and future lines of work; writing the report to academic standards; public presentation and defence before the panel.
Duration and format
1,500hours in total
11modules of 136 hours
100%online, at your own pace
Openenrolment all year round
At 10 hours a week you would finish in about 150 weeks; at 20 hours a week, in about 75.
What you will learn
- Design and manage ship recycling projects.
- Optimise waste management in the maritime industry.
- Implement circular economy strategies in shipyards.
- Develop and implement technologies for recovering value from maritime materials.
- Assess the life cycle of vessels for redesign and reuse.
- Lead the transition to sustainable, circular maritime models.
Career outcomes
- Maritime circularity project manager: designing and implementing strategies to reduce waste and optimise resources.
- Maritime circular economy consultant: advising on circular business models and regulatory compliance.
- Ship materials recycling specialist: processes to recover and reuse materials from decommissioned vessels.
- Environmental auditor in the maritime industry: assessing environmental impact and proposing mitigation measures.
- Sustainability manager in shipyards and shipping companies: policies to reduce the carbon footprint.
- Researcher in ship recycling technologies: new technologies for treating and recovering value from maritime waste.
- Hazardous waste management technician on ships: supervising the management and disposal of hazardous waste on board.
- Maritime environmental regulation expert: advising on national and international marine environmental protection legislation.
Entry requirements
- Academic or professional profile: a degree in engineering (industrial, chemical, environmental, naval or other), environmental sciences, circular economy or a related qualification. Accredited professional experience in the maritime sector or in waste management is also accepted.
- Specific knowledge: basic notions of the maritime industry, materials, waste management and environmental legislation are recommended.
- Documentation: up-to-date CV, copy of your qualification or certificate of experience, identity document or passport, and a motivation letter on your interest in circularity and ship recycling.
- Skills: analytical ability, problem solving and an interest in sustainability and innovation. Enrolment is open all year round; admission is provisional until the committee validates your documentation.
How to enrol
Enrol online
Complete your enrolment on this page, or apply through admissions if you prefer to talk to us first.
Receive your access
We send you the details to enter the virtual campus and start the programme.
Study at your pace
Work through the modules when it suits you and complete the programme from anywhere in the world.
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