Master's in Maritime Safety and Search and Rescue
This master's offers comprehensive training for professionals who want to lead and improve emergency response at sea. It covers the international regulatory framework, advanced rescue techniques, risk management and the coordination of resources in critical situations, so that you can apply effective prevention and mitigation strategies and use the latest technologies and methods to protect human life and the marine environment.
Prior knowledge check
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What is the Master's in Maritime Safety and Search and Rescue?
This master's covers maritime safety from prevention to response and recovery. You will study the international framework, including SOLAS, the SAR Convention, COLREG, STCW and the ISM Code, human factors and safety culture; safe passage planning, collision prevention, navigation in restricted visibility and stability management; the organization of search and rescue services, MRCC operations, search planning, survivor recovery and mass rescue operations; rescue boats, aircraft, life-saving appliances and distress alerting systems; fire, flooding, damage control, mass evacuation and crisis management on passenger ships; advanced first aid, trauma care, hypothermia, medical evacuation and telemedicine; maritime security under the ISPS Code and cybersecurity; accident investigation and root cause analysis; drones, autonomous vehicles, AI and digital twins for rescue; and oil and hazardous substance pollution response under MARPOL and OPRC.
What sets this master's apart: it brings together disciplines that are usually taught separately, from safe navigation and SAR coordination to maritime medicine, security, accident investigation and pollution response, so that you understand how a single incident can involve all of them; it relies on simulated scenarios such as shipwrecks, fires on board and oil spills to practice decision-making under pressure; and it closes with a Final Project in which you design a complete prevention, response and recovery plan for a real maritime safety or rescue scenario.
Program highlights
- International framework: SOLAS, SAR Convention, COLREG, STCW, ISM Code, human factors and safety culture.
- Safe navigation and accident prevention, from passage planning and collision avoidance to stability and dangerous goods.
- Search and rescue operations: MRCCs, search planning, coordination of ships and aircraft and mass rescue operations.
- Emergency management on board: fire, flooding, damage control, mass evacuation and crisis communication.
- Maritime medicine, ISPS security, cybersecurity and accident investigation with root cause analysis.
- Marine pollution response under MARPOL and OPRC, closing with a Final Project on a real rescue scenario.
Syllabus of the Master's in Maritime Safety and Search and Rescue
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of maritime safety and rescue
- 1.1. Evolution of maritime safety and rescue in international shipping
- 1.2. International legal framework: SOLAS, SAR, COLREG, STCW and complementary conventions
- 1.3. Organization of maritime search and rescue (SAR) services
- 1.4. Human factors, safety culture and error management in maritime operations
- 1.5. Assessing operational risks in navigation and maritime activities
- 1.6. Responsibilities of the master, shipowner, crew and maritime authorities
- 1.7. Safety management systems (SMS) under the ISM Code
- 1.8. Coordination between national and international rescue organizations
- 1.9. Technology innovation applied to maritime safety
- 1.10. Current trends and future challenges in maritime rescue
Safe navigation and accident prevention
- 2.1. Safe passage planning and voyage management
- 2.2. Electronic navigation aids and maritime surveillance systems
- 2.3. Collision prevention through practical application of COLREG
- 2.4. Managing weather and ocean risks during navigation
- 2.5. Operational safety in coastal areas, straits and navigation channels
- 2.6. Managing ship stability and structural safety
- 2.7. Navigation procedures in restricted visibility
- 2.8. Preventing accidents involving dangerous goods
- 2.9. Operational safety audits and inspections
- 2.10. Advanced simulation of safe navigation scenarios
Search and rescue (SAR) systems
- 3.1. International organization of SAR operations
- 3.2. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC) and how they work
- 3.3. Tactical planning of search operations
- 3.4. Methods for locating and rescuing people at sea
- 3.5. Coordination between ships, aircraft and rescue units
- 3.6. Survival techniques and recovery of survivors
- 3.7. Managing incidents with multiple casualties
- 3.8. Rescue in adverse weather conditions
- 3.9. SAR operations supported by satellite technology and drones
- 3.10. Evaluating the effectiveness of search and rescue operations
Maritime rescue equipment and resources
- 4.1. Rescue boats and their operational characteristics
- 4.2. Personal and collective life-saving equipment
- 4.3. Launching and recovery systems for rescue boats
- 4.4. Helicopters and aircraft in maritime rescue operations
- 4.5. Communications equipment for maritime emergencies
- 4.6. Automatic identification and distress location systems
- 4.7. Survival and abandon ship equipment
- 4.8. Inspection, maintenance and certification of life-saving equipment
- 4.9. Technology innovations in maritime rescue resources
- 4.10. Operational integration of rescue resources
Emergency management and incident response
- 5.1. Organizing the response to maritime emergencies
- 5.2. Managing fire, explosion and flooding on board
- 5.3. Damage control and maintaining buoyancy
- 5.4. Managing chemical emergencies and marine pollution
- 5.5. Coordinating mass evacuations at sea
- 5.6. Crisis management on passenger ships and cruise ships
- 5.7. Crisis communication and inter-agency coordination
- 5.8. Decision-making under pressure in critical situations
- 5.9. Simulation of complex maritime incidents
- 5.10. Post-incident evaluation and continuous improvement
Maritime medicine and casualty care
- 6.1. Advanced first aid in maritime operations
- 6.2. Trauma care during rescue operations
- 6.3. Basic and advanced life support in the maritime environment
- 6.4. Hypothermia, immersion and conditions specific to the marine environment
- 6.5. Medical evacuation by sea and air
- 6.6. Coordination with health services and hospitals
- 6.7. Medical management of mass casualty incidents
- 6.8. Medical equipment for SAR units
- 6.9. Telemedicine applied to maritime operations
- 6.10. International protocols for medical assistance at sea
Maritime security, protection and risk management
- 7.1. Comprehensive maritime risk assessment
- 7.2. Protecting the ship against security threats
- 7.3. Risk management at port facilities
- 7.4. Protection of critical maritime infrastructure
- 7.5. Cybersecurity applied to maritime systems
- 7.6. Preventing maritime terrorism and unlawful acts
- 7.7. Ship security plans under the ISPS Code
- 7.8. Maritime intelligence and threat analysis
- 7.9. Business continuity after security incidents
- 7.10. Audits and assessment of maritime resilience
Accident investigation and knowledge management
- 8.1. Maritime accident investigation methods
- 8.2. Collecting and analyzing technical evidence
- 8.3. Human factors in casualty investigation
- 8.4. Reconstructing accidents through simulation
- 8.5. Writing technical investigation reports
- 8.6. Safety recommendations and preventive actions
- 8.7. Document management in maritime investigations
- 8.8. Lessons learned and organizational improvement
- 8.9. International maritime accident databases
- 8.10. Developing evidence-based prevention programs
Innovation, technology and strategic management of rescue services
- 9.1. Digitalization of maritime rescue services
- 9.2. Artificial intelligence for predicting emergencies
- 9.3. Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles for rescue
- 9.4. Satellite systems and geospatial analysis in SAR operations
- 9.5. Digital twins for training and operational planning
- 9.6. Big Data and analytics applied to maritime safety
- 9.7. Strategic management of rescue resources
- 9.8. International cooperation in emergency operations
- 9.9. Performance and quality indicators for SAR services
- 9.10. Digital transformation of maritime rescue organizations
Marine pollution prevention and response
- 10.1. MARPOL and the OPRC Convention
- 10.2. SOPEP and SMPEP plans on board
- 10.3. Behavior of oil at sea
- 10.4. Spill drift and trajectory models
- 10.5. Containment booms and skimmers
- 10.6. Dispersants and in situ treatment techniques
- 10.7. Cleanup of shorelines and sensitive areas
- 10.8. Hazardous and noxious substances (HNS)
- 10.9. Coordinating national contingency plans
- 10.10. Damage assessment and liability for pollution
Final Project
- 11.1. Selecting and defining a real maritime safety or rescue scenario
- 11.2. Identifying operational risks and preparing the threat analysis
- 11.3. Designing the comprehensive prevention, response and recovery plan
- 11.4. Developing the search and rescue strategy and inter-agency coordination
- 11.5. Integrating human, material and technological resources into the operation
- 11.6. Preparing the communications, command and control plan for the emergency
- 11.7. Assessing the technical, operational, economic and regulatory feasibility of the project
- 11.8. Designing performance indicators, continuous improvement and organizational resilience
- 11.9. Preparing the technical report, operational documentation and appendices
- 11.10. Presenting and defending the Final Project before an evaluation committee
Duration and format of the Master's in Maritime Safety and Search and Rescue
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 Safety and Search and Rescue
Career opportunities after the Master's in Maritime Safety and Search and Rescue
Questions about the Master's in Maritime Safety and Search and Rescue
The maritime sector, specifically safety and rescue: ship officers, port and terminal safety managers, VTS, pilotage and towage staff, rescue teams, firefighters and security forces working at sea.
Both. The program covers prevention, such as safe navigation, risk assessment, security and accident investigation, as well as response, including SAR operations, emergency management, casualty care and pollution response.
Yes. You work through simulated scenarios such as shipwrecks, fires on board, mass evacuations and oil spills, preparing plans and making decisions under time pressure.
No. The program provides advanced knowledge in safety and rescue management, but the mandatory STCW certificates are issued by the competent maritime authorities and approved training centers.
Yes, with a related degree or experience in maritime, port or emergency operations. The admission interview confirms your fit.
The program is online, with live virtual classes, resources available at any time and a practical, applied approach for working professionals.
Through scenario exercises, emergency plans, procedures and checklists, short module tests and the Final Project.
A Navalis Institute master's certificate and a portfolio of plans, procedures and analyses, including your Final Project.
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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: degree in a maritime field, engineering or a related area, or proven experience in maritime safety and rescue; basic knowledge of maritime law, emergency procedures and risk management is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: computer with a stable internet connection and a headset with microphone 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.
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.