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Master’s degree · Climate and oceanographyMaster's in Green Shipping and Sustainable Vessels
This master's programme prepares you to lead the transformation towards a greener and more efficient maritime industry. You will work with alternative fuels, efficiency technology and operational optimisation, including regulations, indicators and reporting duties.
100% online1,500 hours11 modulesTaught in EnglishEnrol any time
What is this programme?
This master's degree prepares you to lead the transformation of the maritime industry towards a greener, more efficient model. It covers alternative propulsion, the design of eco-efficient ships and strategies for reducing emissions. It also gives you the tools to apply sustainable practices in navigation and fleet management.
What sets this master's degree apart: clean technologies, studying alternative fuels and hybrid and electric propulsion systems; sustainable design, optimising the hull and other elements to reduce resistance and energy consumption; environmental regulation, mastering the international rules on emissions and the management of ship-generated waste; operational efficiency, with route optimisation, ballast management and proactive maintenance strategies; and simulations and practical cases, applying what you learn to real scenarios through simulations and case studies.
Programme highlights
- Sustainable design and operation: technologies to reduce emissions and improve the energy efficiency of ships.
- Maritime environmental regulations: understand international IMO rules and their effect on green shipping.
- Alternative fuels: study LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen as the fuels of the future.
- Route and operations optimisation: strategies to minimise the environmental impact of shipping.
- Port environmental management: sustainable practices for ports and terminals.
- Professional career: a springboard towards a greener maritime sector.
Study plan
01Advanced Strategies for Energy Optimisation and Emission Reduction in Next-Generation Ships136 h
Thermodynamic fundamentals of propulsion; hybrid and electric systems; optimisation of marine diesel engines; waste heat recovery systems (WHRS); exhaust gas treatment (scrubbers, SCR and NOx); simulation of consumption on routes; big data for energy management and condition-based maintenance; trim and ballast; life-cycle assessment (LCA) including scrapping; and the EEDI, SEEMP and IMO 2020 regulations.
02Innovation in Clean Propulsion and Integrated Systems for Maritime Decarbonisation136 h
Electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid systems and batteries; integrated propulsion design; assessment of biofuels, green ammonia, methanol and LNG; flow simulation; onboard carbon capture and storage (CCS); real-time energy management; power electronics; LCA of clean technologies; predictive diagnostics; and MARPOL and IMO regulations and certification.
03Advanced Energy Optimisation Strategies and Innovative Technologies in Clean Propulsion Systems for Sustainable Ships136 h
Fundamentals of energy efficiency; hydrodynamic hull design; dual-fuel engines, SCR and high-efficiency electric motors; integration of renewables (photovoltaic, wind and batteries); electric and azimuth propulsion; optimisation of auxiliaries (pumps, fans, compressors and boilers); CFD software and digital twins; operational energy management (routes and speeds); energy recovery (exhaust heat, regenerative braking and storage); and IMO Tier III, EEDI and CII regulations with energy audits.
04Integrated Management and Retrofit of Onboard Propulsion and Energy Systems136 h
The evolution of retrofitting and its regulatory context; design of hybrid and electric propulsion; modelling and simulation; predictive control and automation; operational efficiency with predictive maintenance; efficient auxiliary systems (waste heat, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical loads); certification (Tier III, EEXI, CII); alternative technologies (dual-fuel, fuel cells, wind and solar); structural retrofit and risk mitigation; and practical cases with return on investment.
05Design, Simulation and Optimisation of Hybrid and Renewable Systems for Green Propulsion136 h
Principles of hybrid design and its regulations; renewable sources (solar, wind and hydrogen) and storage; dynamic simulation; multi-objective optimisation; integration of batteries and supercapacitors; advanced control with SCADA; modular design for fleets; green fuels; LCA; and practical simulations with MATLAB/Simulink, HOMER Pro and ANSYS.
06Advanced Energy Efficiency Strategies, Innovative Clean Propulsion Technologies and Integrated Management136 h
Thermodynamic analysis and comprehensive energy assessment; emerging technologies (hybrids, dual-fuel LNG, fuel cells and electric propulsion); aerodynamic and hydrodynamic optimisation (low-resistance hulls and friction reducers); energy recovery (WHR, storage and thermal management); management of multiple propulsion with predictive control; onboard renewables (marinised solar, wind and wave energy absorption); emission reduction (SCR, EGR, IMO Tier III and EEDI); energy management systems (EMS) and audits; big data and machine learning; and fleet case studies with KPIs.
07Innovation and Integrated Strategies in Clean Propulsion, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Systems136 h
Fundamentals of clean propulsion; integration of electric and hybrid motors; LNG and biofuel systems with comparative analysis; aero-hydrodynamic optimisation with CFD and digital prototyping; renewables and waste energy recovery; advanced storage (solid-state, supercapacitors); real-time control with SCADA and IIoT; regulations (Tier III, EEDI, MARPOL); predictive models; and predictive maintenance with artificial intelligence.
08Advanced Management of Alternative Energy Technologies, Digitalisation and Automation for Sustainable Autonomous Shipping136 h
Classification of alternative technologies (solar, wind, hydrogen, batteries and bio-synthetic fuels); hybrid systems; digitalisation with IoT and big data for routes and consumption; automation and adaptive control in autonomous navigation; digital twins; regulations applicable to alternative technologies and autonomy; integrated energy management; digitalised electric propulsion; distributed control systems (DCS); and advanced modelling.
09Advanced Strategies for Energy Optimisation, Clean Propulsion and Integrated Management for Sustainability136 h
Thermodynamic analysis of losses; clean propulsion (dual-fuel, fuel cells and hybrid propulsion); waste energy recovery; sustainable ship design (hydrodynamics, low-resistance hulls and composite materials); GHG reduction (MARPOL Annex VI and the IMO 2030/2050 targets); EMS with predictive analytics; digital twins for route adjustment; fuel management (LNG, biofuels and hydrogen) from storage onwards; LCA; and regulations (ISO 14001, EEDI, CII and emerging protocols).
10Environmental Regulation and Maritime Decarbonisation Metrics136 h
The IMO greenhouse gas strategy; the EEDI, EEXI and CII indices; the SEEMP plan; the EU Emissions Trading System applied to shipping; the FuelEU Maritime regulation; fuel consumption data collection (DCS) and MRV; emission control areas (ECAs); emissions verification and reporting; the Poseidon Principles and green finance; and compliance strategies for shipping companies.
11Final Master's Project: Integrated Design and Evaluation of Green Propulsion Systems136 h
Project definition and scope; analysis of green propulsion technologies; energy modelling and simulation; LCA of propulsion systems; integration of auxiliaries and storage; applicable regulations (MARPOL Annex VI, the IMO GHG strategy, ISO); optimisation of ship design; simulation of specific routes; economic and financial evaluation (costs, ROI and incentives); and the testing and validation protocol.
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
- Optimise the energy efficiency of ships.
- Implement alternative technologies and fuels.
- Assess the environmental impact of shipping operations.
- Manage construction and conversion projects for green ships.
- Design and implement strategies to reduce polluting emissions in shipping.
- Lead the transition to sustainable, environmentally responsible shipping practices.
Career outcomes
- Maritime sustainability consultant: advises shipping companies and ports on eco-efficient practices and emission reduction.
- Green technology innovation project manager: develops solutions such as alternative propulsion, renewables and consumption optimisation.
- Ship energy auditor: assesses energy performance and proposes improvements.
- Maritime environmental regulation specialist: applies national and international regulations, including waste management and pollution prevention.
- R&D manager at shipyards and naval design companies: researches and designs more efficient ships.
- Marine renewable energy technician: installs and maintains systems such as solar panels and wind turbines.
- Ship life-cycle analyst: assesses the environmental impact of a ship from construction to scrapping.
- Communication and marketing manager in the maritime sector: promotes sustainable products and services and awareness of green shipping.
Entry requirements
- Academic or professional profile: a degree in Naval Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Marine Sciences, Nautical Studies or similar, or demonstrable professional experience in the maritime or energy sector with a focus on sustainability.
- Language skills: English at B2 level (CEFR), certified or equivalent. Knowledge of technical maritime and environmental terminology is valued.
- Specific knowledge valued: maritime environmental regulations (IMO and EU), energy efficiency, renewable energy, life-cycle assessment and modelling and simulation tools.
- Documentation: up-to-date CV, degree certificate or academic transcript, motivation letter and a copy of your national ID or passport.
- Technical requirements for online study: a computer with broadband, an up-to-date browser and software for PDF documents. A camera and microphone are recommended.
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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