Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction
This professional diploma gives you the essential tools to improve vessel performance through the design of the hull form itself. You will learn to model hulls in 3D, predict and reduce resistance, optimize bows, sterns and appendages and evaluate your designs with CFD and towing tank methods, so that you can deliver lower-drag, more fuel-efficient hulls that meet current and future environmental standards in the maritime industry.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction?
This professional diploma starts from the lines plan and ends with a redesigned, validated hull. You will learn the geometry of hull forms, NURBS surfaces, form coefficients, fairing and CAD/CAE data exchange; the physics of resistance, from the boundary layer and Kelvin wave system to shallow water effects and empirical methods such as Holtrop-Mennen; the optimization of bulbous bows, sterns, planing steps, inverted bows and appendages; RANS CFD with free-surface modeling and verification and validation; towing tank testing and model-to-ship extrapolation; hull-propeller interaction and energy-saving devices; and drag reduction technologies such as air lubrication, low-friction coatings and hydrofoils.
What sets this diploma apart: the hull form is the protagonist, so you work on shaping geometry rather than on propulsion plants or general hydrodynamic theory; parametric CAD coupled with solvers lets you explore and compare form variants systematically; experimental (EFD) and numerical (CFD) methods are treated side by side to support design decisions; the link between hull form and the IMO EEDI and EEXI ratings, alternative fuel tanks and wind-assisted ships is made explicit; and the integrating project takes a real vessel type from baseline geometry to an optimized hull with a quantified resistance reduction.
Program highlights
- Hull geometry: lines plans, NURBS surfaces, form coefficients, fairing and CAD/CAE export.
- Resistance theory: viscous, wave-making and form resistance, shallow water effects and empirical methods.
- Form optimization: bulbous bows, sterns, planing steps, inverted bows and appendages with parametric CAD.
- CFD and towing tank: RANS and VOF simulation, mesh and V&V, model tests and ITTC-1978 extrapolation.
- Drag reduction: hull-propeller interaction, energy-saving devices, air lubrication, coatings and hydrofoils.
- Integrating project: hydrodynamic optimization and 3D redesign of a real hull type.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of hull geometry, forms and 3D modeling
- 1.1. Introduction to hull forms: geometric representation, lines plan, waterlines, sections and diagonals
- 1.2. Geometry of curved surfaces and NURBS: mathematical definition of smooth surfaces, control points and continuity (G0, G1, G2)
- 1.3. Form coefficients and non-dimensional parameters: block coefficient (Cb), prismatic coefficient (Cp), midship section coefficient (Cm) and waterplane coefficient (Cw)
- 1.4. Initial hydrostatic and hydrodynamic attributes: center of buoyancy (CB), center of flotation (CF), wetted surface area (S) and their relationship with resistance
- 1.5. Hull types: conventional non-planing, semi-planing and planing hulls, catamarans, trimarans and unconventional forms
- 1.6. Geometric quality criteria: checking for watertight geometry, surface fairing and preparing geometry for CFD
- 1.7. CAD/CAE data exchange: exporting hull geometries in neutral formats (IGES, STEP, Rhino) without loss of precision
- 1.8. Definition of the lines plan
Theory of ship and boat resistance
- 2.1. Components of resistance: breakdown into viscous resistance, wave-making resistance and air resistance
- 2.2. Boundary layer and viscous friction: flat plate boundary layer theory, the ITTC friction coefficient, surface roughness and the law of the wall
- 2.3. Wave resistance and Froude number (Fn): physics of the Kelvin wave system, divergent and transverse waves
- 2.4. Flow separation and form resistance: boundary layer separation, stern vortices and optimization of the run
- 2.5. Hydrodynamic interference effects: bow-stern interaction, hull interference in multihulls and the effect of appendages
- 2.6. Influence of restricted waters: shallow water effects, confinement in channels (squat) and speed variations
- 2.7. Empirical and regression methods: resistance estimation with the Holtrop-Mennen method, Series 60, Series 62 and ITTC-1957
- 2.8. Wave-making resistance
Hull form optimization: bulbous bows, sterns and appendages
- 3.1. Design and optimization of bulbous bows: bulb types (delta, O and V), cancellation of the bow wave and operating speed range
- 3.2. Design of the stern area: flow to the propeller, velocity distribution, transom sterns and propeller tunnels
- 3.3. Optimization of hydrodynamic appendages: design of keels, rudders, nozzles, bilge keels and sternposts to minimize drag
- 3.4. Planing hulls and steps: physics of planing, hydrodynamic lift, deadrise angle and air injection
- 3.5. Hulls with inverted bows and Axe Bow forms: behavior in waves, reduction of accelerations and efficiency in rough seas
- 3.6. Alignment of appendages with streamlines: use of flow maps to orient rudders and shaft brackets
- 3.7. Parametric hull optimization: automated modification of geometries with parametric CAD software coupled to a solver
- 3.8. Design of appendages and rudders
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applied to hull design
- 4.1. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations: discretisation of the fluid domain and turbulence models (k-epsilon, k-omega SST)
- 4.2. Numerical mesh generation: structured and unstructured meshes, boundary layer refinement (y+) and adaptive free-surface meshes
- 4.3. Free-surface modeling (VOF, volume of fluid): simulation of the water-air interface, capture of the wave pattern and dynamic sinkage and trim
- 4.4. Simulation of calm water resistance: setting up boundary conditions, numerical convergence and force analysis
- 4.5. Simulation of the hull free to move: coupling with 2 degrees of freedom (sinkage and trim) in sailing dynamics
- 4.6. Post-processing and interpretation of data: analysis of pressure contours, streamlines, velocity vectors and wave height
- 4.7. CFD verification and validation (V&V): quantification of numerical uncertainty, mesh independence and comparison with ITTC procedures
- 4.8. Validation of CFD results
Experimental testing in hydrodynamic test tanks (EFD)
- 5.1. Laws of physical similarity: Froude and Reynolds laws and geometric, kinematic and dynamic similarity criteria for scale models
- 5.2. Hydrodynamic testing infrastructure: towing tank, maneuvering basin and cavitation tunnel
- 5.3. Resistance tests with scale models: instrumentation, towing carriages, force sensors and tank blockage correction
- 5.4. Extrapolation of results from model to full-scale ship: the ITTC-1978 extrapolation method, form factor (1+k) and hull roughness
- 5.5. Measurement of velocity fields: laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) for wake maps
- 5.6. Roughness simulation techniques and turbulence stimulators: trip wires, studs and control of boundary layer transition
- 5.7. Comparison of EFD and CFD: how laboratory tests and numerical simulation complement each other in decision-making
- 5.8. Self-propulsion tests
Hull-propeller interaction and propulsive efficiency
- 6.1. The hull wake field (wake fraction): nominal wake, effective wake and velocity distribution in the propeller disc
- 6.2. Thrust deduction factor: hydrodynamic interaction between the working propeller and the pressure field at the stern
- 6.3. Hull efficiency (eta H): relationship between the resistance of the bare hull and the thrust required with the propeller working
- 6.4. Energy-saving devices at the stern (ESD): stern flaps, pre-swirl stators, ducts and rudder bulbs
- 6.5. CFD simulation of hull-propeller interaction: actuator disc methods, blade element theory and sliding mesh simulations
- 6.6. Cavitation induced by hull flow: influence of a non-uniform wake field on cavitation inception and severity
- 6.7. Optimization of the stern for air and water flow: reduction of hydrodynamically induced vibration and noise through form design
- 6.8. Propulsive coefficients and efficiencies
Drag reduction technologies and hydrodynamic sustainability
- 7.1. Air lubrication systems (ALS): injection of microbubbles under the hull bottom and friction reduction
- 7.2. High-efficiency antifouling coatings and paints: fluoropolymers, low surface energy silicones and roughness control
- 7.3. Use of foils and hydrodynamic lift (hydrofoils): design of submerged wings to lift the hull and reduce wetted surface
- 7.4. Low-emission hulls to comply with the EEDI and EEXI: direct impact of hydrodynamics on the IMO energy efficiency rating
- 7.5. Development of hull forms for alternative fuels: geometric adaptations to accommodate large tank volumes (LNG/LH2)
- 7.6. Hull hydrodynamics for wind-assisted propulsion: control of leeway and drift and friction forces on ships with rigid sails
- 7.7. In-service monitoring of hydrodynamic performance: analysis of real-time voyage data to assess the deterioration of the underwater hull
- 7.8. Hull air lubrication
Integrating project: hydrodynamic optimization and redesign of a 3D hull
- 8.1. Definition of the case study: selection of a vessel type (merchant ship, patrol boat, catamaran or yacht) and its operating specifications
- 8.2. 3D modeling of the baseline hull geometry: creation of the three-dimensional lines plan and evaluation of initial coefficients
- 8.3. Baseline resistance analysis: calculation of resistance with empirical methods and initial CFD simulation
- 8.4. Form redesign and optimization process: geometric modification of the bulb, waterlines or stern to improve the flow
- 8.5. Comparative CFD simulation: running the numerical model on the optimized geometry and verifying the percentage of resistance reduction
- 8.6. Technical feasibility and energy efficiency analysis: assessment of the impact of the new design on fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
- 8.7. Presentation of results
- 8.8. Final presentation: defense of the hydrodynamic optimization of the hull before a panel of naval architects and fluid engineers
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction
It is 800 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 Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Hull Form Design and Drag Reduction
To minimize resistance through the water so that the vessel needs less power for the same speed, improving fuel efficiency, emissions and overall performance.
It is about vessels: merchant ships, patrol boats, catamarans, yachts and planing craft, from conventional non-planing to high-speed hulls.
The hull form is at the center: geometry, bulbs, sterns, appendages and drag reduction systems. Propulsion is covered through hull-propeller interaction and energy-saving devices, not through engines or propeller design in depth.
No. The CFD module covers RANS equations, turbulence models, meshing, free-surface modeling and verification from the basics, although a grounding in fluid mechanics and CAD is recommended.
Yes. One module explains similarity laws, resistance and self-propulsion tests, flow measurement with LDA and PIV and the ITTC-1978 method for extrapolating model results to full scale.
Through practical exercises and case studies in each module and an integrating project in which you model a baseline hull, optimize its form and quantify the resistance reduction with comparative CFD.
A professional diploma issued by Navalis Institute, together with the hull models and analyses you develop during the program.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7 with recorded classes, discussion forums and personalized tutoring. The diploma comprises 800 hours across 8 modules of 100 hours each.
More programs in Hull and naval architecture
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at naval architects and engineers, advanced engineering students, shipyard and design office professionals, ship performance consultants and R&D staff; a degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, industrial design or a related field, or demonstrable experience in ship design or construction, is recommended, together with a good grounding in geometry, calculus, fluid mechanics and CAD; familiarity with tools such as Rhino, Maxsurf or DELFTship is an advantage.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer able to run CAD software, a high-speed internet connection and basic computer skills.
- 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.