Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)
This master's is designed to train leaders who can drive growth and innovation in the maritime industry. It combines the core disciplines of business administration with a specialized focus on shipyards, shipping companies, ports and marine service firms: strategic planning and corporate governance, financial management, ship finance and corporate risk, project and fleet management, digital transformation, people and leadership, international contracting and negotiation, and the sustainability and regulatory challenges that are reshaping the industry.
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What is the Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)?
This master's applies the full MBA toolkit to companies in the maritime industry. You will study the structure of the sector and its business models and value chains; strategic planning, competitive analysis, corporate governance, risk and change management; budgeting, cost analysis in shipbuilding, operation and maintenance, investment appraisal for ships and infrastructure, financing models and treasury; integrated management of shipbuilding, EPC and offshore projects, quality control and supplier management; fleet operations, asset availability, life cycle and operating costs; digital transformation with AI, IoT, digital twins, automation, data and cybersecurity; talent management, leadership, knowledge management and safety culture; international markets, B2B marketing, contract negotiation and strategic alliances; ESG, decarbonization, new fuels and the circular economy; and corporate risk, hull and machinery and P&I insurance, ship finance, sale and leaseback, valuation, M&A and sanctions compliance.
What sets this master's apart: it is an MBA built around the economics of the maritime industry, from shipyard projects and EPC contracts to fleet operations and port services, rather than a general MBA with maritime examples; it gives corporate finance and risk a module of their own, with ship finance, debt structures, leasing, company and asset valuation, M&A and currency and fuel risk; it develops leadership and negotiation skills for complex industrial organizations; and it closes with a Final Project in which you build a complete business plan for a maritime company and defend it before an academic panel.
Program highlights
- Strategy and governance for shipyards, shipping companies and ports: competitive analysis, growth, risk and change management.
- Financial management: budgets, cost analysis, investment appraisal for ships and infrastructure, treasury and financial models.
- Project and fleet management: shipbuilding, EPC and offshore contracts, quality, suppliers, asset life cycle and operating costs.
- Digital transformation, AI, IoT, digital twins and cybersecurity applied to maritime business.
- Corporate finance and risk: ship finance, sale and leaseback, valuation, M&A, H&M and P&I insurance and sanctions compliance.
- Final Project: a complete business plan for a maritime company, defended before a panel.
Syllabus of the Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of maritime business management
- 1.1. The evolution of the maritime industry and the features of the international maritime market
- 1.2. Structure of the sector: shipyards, shipping companies, maritime operators, ancillary companies and specialized services
- 1.3. Business models in maritime companies
- 1.4. The maritime value chain and the relationships between industrial actors
- 1.5. Principles of business management applied to maritime organizations
- 1.6. Features of leadership in companies with complex marine operations
- 1.7. Strategic analysis of the maritime, technological and economic environment
- 1.8. Current challenges for the maritime industry: digitalization, sustainability and global competitiveness
- 1.9. Internal organization of maritime companies and corporate structures
- 1.10. Developing a strategic vision for managing maritime companies
Strategic planning and corporate governance in maritime companies
- 2.1. Design of strategic plans for maritime companies
- 2.2. Competitive analysis of the international maritime market
- 2.3. Managing business growth and expansion into new markets
- 2.4. Corporate governance, management bodies and strategic decision-making
- 2.5. Business risk management in maritime organizations
- 2.6. Development of corporate policies, objectives and action plans
- 2.7. Strategic control systems based on performance indicators
- 2.8. Organizational change management in maritime companies
- 2.9. Corporate responsibility, business ethics and sustainability
- 2.10. Preparation of comprehensive strategic plans for maritime companies
Financial and economic management of maritime companies
- 3.1. Financial foundations applied to the maritime sector
- 3.2. Preparation and control of business budgets
- 3.3. Cost analysis in shipbuilding, ship operation and maintenance
- 3.4. Financial management of large-scale maritime projects
- 3.5. Appraisal of investments in ships, infrastructure and marine technologies
- 3.6. Financing models for maritime companies
- 3.7. Financial control with economic and operational indicators
- 3.8. Treasury, liquidity and financial planning
- 3.9. Profitability and economic feasibility analysis of maritime projects
- 3.10. Development of financial models for companies in the maritime sector
Maritime project and operations management
- 4.1. Integrated management of maritime projects from planning to delivery
- 4.2. Project management methodologies applied to the maritime sector
- 4.3. Management of scope, schedule, cost and resources in maritime projects
- 4.4. Coordination between engineering, production, purchasing and operations
- 4.5. Management of EPC, shipbuilding and offshore project contracts
- 4.6. Quality control and assurance of industrial processes
- 4.7. Management of specialized suppliers and subcontractors
- 4.8. Leading multidisciplinary teams on maritime projects
- 4.9. Management of technical and operational risks in maritime projects
- 4.10. Project performance assessment with management indicators
Maritime operations, logistics and fleet management
- 5.1. Operational management of commercial and specialized fleets
- 5.2. Management of availability, maintenance and operation of marine assets
- 5.3. Planning of routes, operations and efficient vessel utilization
- 5.4. Maritime logistics management and global supply chains
- 5.5. Optimization of fleet operating costs
- 5.6. Life cycle management of ships and maritime assets
- 5.7. Digital fleet and operations management systems
- 5.8. Maritime operational efficiency indicators
- 5.9. Operational continuity management in the face of maritime incidents
- 5.10. Development of strategies to improve fleet competitiveness
Innovation, digitalization and transformation in the maritime industry
- 6.1. Digital transformation of maritime companies
- 6.2. Artificial intelligence in maritime business management
- 6.3. Internet of Things and connected systems in maritime operations
- 6.4. Digital twins applied to ships and industrial processes
- 6.5. Automation and robotization of maritime processes
- 6.6. Data management for strategic decision-making
- 6.7. Corporate cybersecurity in maritime organizations
- 6.8. Open innovation and technological collaboration in the maritime sector
- 6.9. Development of new digital maritime business models
- 6.10. Designing innovation strategies for the maritime companies of the future
Human resources, leadership and organizational culture
- 7.1. Strategic talent management in maritime companies
- 7.2. Management of technical teams, engineers, operators and seafarers
- 7.3. Leadership in complex industrial organizations
- 7.4. Development of professional competencies in the maritime sector
- 7.5. Knowledge management and technology transfer
- 7.6. Internal communication and coordination between departments
- 7.7. Conflict management and organizational negotiation
- 7.8. Safety culture and operational excellence
- 7.9. Continuous training and professional development plans
- 7.10. Building efficient and resilient maritime organizations
International trade, contracting and negotiation in the maritime industry
- 8.1. International markets for shipbuilding and marine services
- 8.2. Commercial strategies for maritime companies
- 8.3. Negotiation of national and international maritime contracts
- 8.4. Management of relationships with clients, shipowners and maritime operators
- 8.5. Shipbuilding, repair and maintenance contracts
- 8.6. Management of contractual and financial risks
- 8.7. Internationalization of maritime companies
- 8.8. B2B marketing for the maritime industry
- 8.9. Management of strategic alliances and business cooperation
- 8.10. Development of commercial strategies for international positioning
Sustainability, regulation and the future of the maritime industry
- 9.1. International maritime regulation and corporate compliance
- 9.2. ESG strategies for maritime companies
- 9.3. Decarbonization of shipping and the energy transition
- 9.4. New marine fuels and sustainable technologies
- 9.5. Circular economy in shipbuilding and ship maintenance
- 9.6. Environmental management in maritime organizations
- 9.7. Business adaptation to climate change and new regulatory scenarios
- 9.8. Sustainable innovation in shipyards and ancillary companies
- 9.9. Environmental and reputational impact assessment for companies
- 9.10. Designing business strategies for a sustainable maritime industry
Risk management, insurance and corporate finance in maritime companies
- 10.1. Risk map of the maritime company
- 10.2. Hull and machinery insurance
- 10.3. P&I clubs and third-party liability
- 10.4. Ship finance and debt structures
- 10.5. Leasing and sale and leaseback transactions
- 10.6. Valuation of maritime companies and assets
- 10.7. Mergers and acquisitions in the maritime sector
- 10.8. Management of currency and fuel price risk
- 10.9. Regulatory compliance and international sanctions
- 10.10. Corporate risk dashboard
Final Project
- 11.1. Definition of the maritime business case for the Final Project
- 11.2. Strategic analysis of the company, its market and competitive environment
- 11.3. Design of the proposed business model and organizational structure
- 11.4. Preparation of the financial plan and economic appraisal of the project
- 11.5. Development of the operational, logistics and resource management plan
- 11.6. Design of the commercial, internationalization and positioning strategy
- 11.7. Integration of digital solutions, innovation and corporate sustainability
- 11.8. Preparation of the risk, compliance and business continuity plan
- 11.9. Presentation of the executive report and strategic documentation of the project
- 11.10. Defense and assessment of the Final Project before an academic panel
Duration and format of the Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)
It is 1,500 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 Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)
Career opportunities after the Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)
Questions about the Master's in Maritime Business Management (Naval MBA)
The maritime industry: shipyards, shipping companies, ports, offshore contractors and marine service and ancillary companies.
Every module is applied to the maritime business: shipbuilding and EPC projects, fleet operations, ship finance and insurance, maritime contracts and the regulatory and decarbonization pressures specific to the sector.
No. The program is aimed at naval engineers, masters and officers, managers of maritime companies, consultants, entrepreneurs and graduates in engineering or business. The admission interview confirms that your profile fits.
Yes. A full module covers the risk map of the company, hull and machinery and P&I insurance, ship finance and debt structures, sale and leaseback, valuation, mergers and acquisitions, currency and fuel risk and sanctions compliance.
Online, with real business case studies and a practical, results-oriented approach designed for working professionals.
Through case studies and assignments throughout the modules and a Final Project in which you build and defend a complete business plan for a maritime company.
A Navalis Institute master's certificate and a Final Project with strategic, financial, operational and commercial plans that you can use as a professional portfolio.
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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: a degree in business administration, naval engineering, economics or a related field, or professional experience in the maritime sector; experience in management, operations or technical roles at maritime or port companies is an advantage.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with camera and microphone and a stable internet connection; any specific software will be announced in advance.
- 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.