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Professional Diploma in Basic Marine Electricity

This professional diploma gives you the essential fundamentals to understand and apply electricity in the maritime environment. It covers ship power systems, wiring diagrams, protection and measuring devices and fault finding, always with marine engineering practice in mind.

100% online800 hours8 modulesTaught in EnglishEnrol any time

What is this programme?

This professional diploma gives you the fundamentals you need to understand and apply electricity in the maritime environment, from basic principles to the operation of electrical systems on board. It prepares you to diagnose, maintain and repair equipment safely and efficiently.

It is designed for anyone seeking a solid grounding in marine electricity or wishing to broaden their technical knowledge in the industry.

Key benefits: solid fundamentals in circuits, components and electrical measurements; practical application in reading wiring diagrams and carrying out preventive and corrective maintenance; electrical safety rules and procedures for working with electricity on board; familiarity with the systems commonly found on vessels, such as generators, motors and lighting; and specialised, in-demand training to advance your career in the marine industry.

Programme highlights

  • Electrical fundamentals: basic principles and their application to marine systems.
  • Marine circuits: identify, analyse and solve problems in circuits specific to vessels.
  • Instrumentation and measurement: diagnostic and measuring tools for maintenance.
  • Electrical safety: rules to prevent risks and accidents in marine electrical environments.
  • Electrical maintenance: predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance of marine equipment.
  • Advance your career in the marine sector with solid, practical knowledge.

Study plan

01Fundamentals of electricity applied to the marine environment and basic principles of shipboard electrical systems100 h
Basic concepts: voltage, current, resistance, power and energy; fundamental laws: Ohm and Kirchhoff; direct and alternating current in marine use; quantities, units and basic measuring instruments; essential components: conductors, resistors, switches, fuses and connections; wiring diagrams and marine symbols; basic electrical safety and risk prevention; static electricity and discharges in marine environments.
02Basic electrical circuits, installation and power distribution on vessels100 h
Series, parallel and combined circuits; power distribution: switchboards, panels and supply lines; cabling and conductor selection criteria; protection: fuses, circuit breakers and residual current devices; voltage drops, losses and efficiency; reading basic electrical drawings; good installation practice in the marine environment; cable cross-section calculation.
03Electrical power generation and storage systems on vessels100 h
Batteries: types, operation, capacity and applications; charging systems: alternators, shore chargers and regulators; onboard generators and their integration into the distribution system; battery banks in series and parallel; energy management and autonomy; storage maintenance; safety in generation and storage; lithium batteries on board.
04Auxiliary electrical equipment and onboard consumers100 h
Interior, exterior and navigation lighting; service equipment: pumps, ventilation, refrigeration and auxiliaries; basic navigation electronics and control devices; integration of equipment into the vessel's network; consumption management and energy efficiency; fault diagnosis in auxiliary equipment; basic maintenance of shipboard equipment; residual current protection and insulation.
05Maintenance, diagnosis and troubleshooting of electrical faults in marine systems100 h
Principles of preventive and corrective maintenance; use of the multimeter and basic diagnostic tools; common faults: short circuits, voltage losses and faulty connections; inspection and checking procedures; basic repair and replacement of components; maintenance records and control of interventions; safety in electrical work on board; insulation resistance measurement.
06Regulations, safety and good practice in basic marine electricity100 h
Basic regulations for installations on vessels; safety rules in damp and marine environments; protection against shocks and insulation faults; risk management in operation and maintenance; good practice in use and upkeep; basic inspections and certifications; safety culture and responsibility; ISO standards for electrical installations on vessels.
07Basic integration of electrical systems with electronic and control equipment100 h
Relationship between electrical and electronic systems on modern vessels; introduction to simple electrical control; interaction between sensors, actuators and power supply; basic integration of navigation systems with the electrical network; interference and compatibility problems; extending existing systems; preparation for more advanced systems; digital monitoring.
08Final project in basic marine electrical installation and maintenance100 h
Definition of the electrical system of a typical vessel; design of a basic installation diagram; selection of components and materials; planning the installation or intervention; identification of risks and safety measures; basic maintenance plan; documentation and hand-over; presentation and validation of the project.

Duration and format

800hours in total
8modules of 100 hours
100%online, at your own pace
Openenrolment all year round

At 10 hours a week you would finish in about 80 weeks; at 20 hours a week, in about 40.

What you will learn

  • Apply marine electrical safety regulations.
  • Interpret marine electrical drawings and diagrams.
  • Carry out preventive and corrective maintenance of basic electrical systems on vessels.
  • Diagnose and resolve common faults in basic marine electrical circuits.
  • Install and configure basic electrical components according to technical specifications.
  • Select and use electrical measuring instruments safely and efficiently.

Career outcomes

  • Shipboard marine electrician: maintenance and repair of electrical systems on ships.
  • Shipyard maintenance technician: repair and upgrading of marine electrical systems.
  • Electrical systems installer on vessels: cabling, panels and equipment in new builds.
  • Support technician in marine equipment companies: assistance and maintenance of marine electrical equipment.
  • Marine electrical installations inspector: verification of regulations and safety standards.
  • Power systems operator on offshore platforms: operation and maintenance on oil and offshore wind platforms.
  • Marine automation technician: design, installation and maintenance of automated systems on ships.
  • Technical sales representative for marine electrical equipment: advice and sales to the marine industry.

Entry requirements

  • Academic or professional profile: secondary education or equivalent, a level 1 vocational certificate in a technical field, or demonstrable work experience in the marine sector, preferably in maintenance or repair.
  • Recommended prior knowledge: basic notions of electricity (circuits, voltage and current).
  • Documentation: up-to-date CV, secondary education certificate or equivalent (if applicable), proof of experience (if applicable) and identity document or passport.
  • Specific requirements: in some cases, passing a basic aptitude test. 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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