Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance

This professional diploma gives you the specialist tools and knowledge to protect the structural and operational integrity of ships. You will learn to identify and assess damage, corrosion and fatigue in the hull and to put in place effective, cost-conscious preventive and corrective maintenance, so that you can extend the service life of the vessel, reduce repair costs and comply with current safety and environmental rules.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
Program diagnosis

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.

Your diagnosis
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You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance?

This professional diploma prepares you to inspect, assess and maintain steel ship hulls throughout their service life. You will start with hull geometry, structural members, naval steels and the global and local loads acting on the hull, then study how hulls deteriorate through corrosion, biofouling, erosion, cavitation, buckling, fatigue and cracking, and how collision, grounding and berthing damage is surveyed. You will learn the main non-destructive testing methods (visual, ultrasonic thickness measurement, magnetic particle, penetrant, radiography and eddy current), the IMO and classification society survey regime including the Enhanced Survey Program, in-water surveys with divers and ROVs, coating systems and cathodic protection, steel renewal and weld repair procedures, and maintenance management with RCM, CMMS, docking budgets and hot-work safety.

What sets this diploma apart: a complete inspection toolkit, from visual survey to ultrasonic, magnetic particle, penetrant, radiographic and eddy current testing; a clear grasp of the class survey cycle, from annual surveys to class renewal, conditions of class and ESP; dedicated coverage of in-water surveys with divers and ROVs as an alternative to dry-docking; a practical view of repairs, from plate inserts and crack repair to welding procedures and tightness testing; and a management perspective with reliability-centered maintenance, CMMS, docking planning and cost control.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Hull structure: geometry, structural members, naval steels, loads and scantlings.
  • Damage mechanisms: corrosion, fouling, erosion, cavitation, buckling, fatigue and cracking.
  • NDT methods: visual, UT thickness gauging, MT, PT, RT and eddy current with acceptance criteria.
  • Class and statutory surveys: SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Lines, ESP and the class renewal cycle.
  • Underwater inspection: in-water surveys with divers and ROVs, cleaning and anode checks.
  • Repair and management: steel renewal, WPS, tightness testing, RCM, CMMS and docking budgets.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of naval architecture and hull structure

  • 1.1. Ship geometry and hull structural terminology
  • 1.2. Longitudinal and transverse members and local stiffening
  • 1.3. Mechanical properties of shipbuilding steels and alloys
  • 1.4. Global loads: bending, torsion and shear on the hull girder
  • 1.5. Local loads: hydrostatic pressure, wave impact and deck loads
  • 1.6. Types of structural joints: ship welding and riveting
  • 1.7. Structural drawings, thickness records and the hull plan set
  • 1.8. Scantlings and structural members
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Deterioration mechanisms and failures in ship hulls

  • 2.1. Marine corrosion: electrochemical, pitting and galvanic
  • 2.2. Biofouling and coating degradation
  • 2.3. Wear from erosion, cavitation and mechanical abrasion
  • 2.4. Structural deformation: buckling, dents and misalignment
  • 2.5. Fatigue mechanisms in welded joints and stress concentrations
  • 2.6. Structural cracking and crack propagation in plating
  • 2.7. Survey of damage from collision, grounding and contact with quays
  • 2.8. Interaction of fatigue, corrosion and cracking
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods applied to the hull

  • 3.1. Direct and remote visual inspection of ship structures
  • 3.2. Ultrasonic thickness measurement (UT) of hull plating
  • 3.3. Detection of surface cracks by magnetic particle testing (MT)
  • 3.4. Penetrant testing (PT) of welds and fittings
  • 3.5. Industrial radiography (RT) for weld assessment
  • 3.6. Eddy current testing (ET) on specific alloys
  • 3.7. Acceptance and rejection criteria and calibration of NDT equipment
  • 3.8. Ultrasonic testing and thickness gauging in practice
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Regulations, classification societies and statutory surveys

  • 4.1. The IMO regulatory framework: SOLAS, MARPOL and Load Lines conventions
  • 4.2. The role of classification societies in hull maintenance
  • 4.3. The Enhanced Survey Program (ESP) for bulk carriers and tankers
  • 4.4. Periodic surveys: annual, intermediate and class renewal
  • 4.5. Bottom surveys in dry dock and in-water surveys afloat
  • 4.6. Handling deficiencies, memoranda and conditions of class
  • 4.7. Technical documentation, safety certificates and survey reports
  • 4.8. Periodic class surveys in practice
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Underwater inspection techniques (UWILD / IWS)

  • 5.1. Protocols for inspecting the hull afloat without dry-docking
  • 5.2. Equipment and instruments for inspection divers
  • 5.3. Inspection with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)
  • 5.4. Underwater hull cleaning and propeller polishing
  • 5.5. Assessing the condition of underwater cathodic protection
  • 5.6. Real-time video and data transmission from the seabed
  • 5.7. Safety rules for ship inspection diving operations
  • 5.8. Combined ROV and diver inspections
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Cathodic protection and hull painting

  • 6.1. Marine paint systems: primers, anti-corrosive and antifouling coatings
  • 6.2. Surface preparation: abrasive blasting, hydroblasting and Sa/St grades
  • 6.3. Paint schemes by hull zone: underwater hull, topsides and boot top
  • 6.4. Cathodic protection with sacrificial (galvanic) anodes
  • 6.5. Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP)
  • 6.6. Quality inspection of paint application: dry film thickness (DFT) and adhesion
  • 6.7. Maintenance and renewal of anti-corrosion protection components
  • 6.8. Selecting hull paint systems
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Structural maintenance and repair procedures

  • 7.1. Planning and logistics for entering a shipyard or dry dock
  • 7.2. Steel renewal procedures: inserting new plate sections
  • 7.3. Cleaning, bevelling and re-welding cracks
  • 7.4. Qualification of welding procedures (WPS) and ship welders
  • 7.5. Maintenance of ballast tanks, bilges and double-bottom spaces
  • 7.6. Temporary repairs versus permanent repairs approved by class
  • 7.7. Quality control and tightness testing: hose, vacuum and compressed air tests
  • 7.8. Renewal of plating and welding
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Maintenance management, costs and operational safety

  • 8.1. Applying reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) to hulls
  • 8.2. Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS/AMOS)
  • 8.3. Cost analysis: preventive maintenance versus extraordinary repairs
  • 8.4. Estimating budgets for dry-dockings and major works
  • 8.5. Safety in enclosed spaces and hot-work permits
  • 8.6. Managing environmental risks and waste during maintenance
  • 8.7. Dry-docking planning
  • 8.8. Digital inspections: digital twins and continuous structural monitoring
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)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 FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance

01Extend the service life of the vessel with predictive maintenance based on data analysis and condition monitoring, lengthening intervals between dockings and reducing unplanned downtime.
02Safeguard the structural integrity of the ship by supervising watertightness, ballast and bilge systems and acting early on possible leaks or structural damage.
03Apply advanced inspection techniques, using non-destructive testing and predictive analysis to assess structural condition, document findings and propose corrective actions.
04Manage maintenance resources effectively, planning, scheduling and executing tasks while controlling costs and keeping equipment available.
05Comply with maritime safety rules by applying emergency and damage-control procedures and documenting every action according to established protocols.
06Diagnose and solve corrosion problems by identifying corrosion types, assessing their impact and applying suitable repair and protection techniques.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance

01Hull inspector carrying out hull surveys, assessing damage and corrosion and checking regulatory compliance
02Maintenance supervisor planning and overseeing hull repair and maintenance work in shipyards and in service
03NDT technician applying ultrasonic, radiographic and other methods to detect hull defects
04Technical consultant advising shipowners, shipyards and insurers on hull integrity
05Marine damage surveyor investigating hull-related incidents and preparing expert reports
06Shipyard technical office or repair project coordinator preparing repair specifications and managing deadlines and budgets
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Hull Inspection and Maintenance

To make sure the ship remains safe and seaworthy by detecting corrosion, deformation, fatigue cracks and coating breakdown early enough to plan the right repairs.

Mainly steel hulls of commercial ships, with structural concepts, survey regimes and repair methods that also help with other steel vessels.

Visual inspection, ultrasonic thickness measurement, magnetic particle, penetrant, radiographic and eddy current testing, along with acceptance criteria and equipment calibration.

Yes. You will study annual, intermediate and class renewal surveys, the Enhanced Survey Program, dry-dock and in-water bottom surveys and how conditions of class are handled.

The diploma teaches the principles and application of NDT on hulls. Personal NDT operator certification is granted separately by the competent certification bodies.

It is fully online, with multimedia resources available at any time, live sessions and personalized tutoring to resolve your questions.

Yes, if you have related technical training or practical experience in ship inspection, maintenance or repair. The admission interview confirms that the program fits your profile.

A Navalis Institute professional diploma, together with the inspection reports, repair plans and maintenance documents you prepare during the program.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at naval and marine engineers, classification society and insurance surveyors, shipyard maintenance and operations supervisors, shipowners and technical managers, and advanced naval engineering students; a degree in naval architecture, naval or marine engineering or a related field, a higher technical qualification in shipbuilding, or demonstrable experience in ship inspection, maintenance or repair is recommended, together with basic knowledge of ship materials, corrosion, welding, NDT and classification society rules.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera and microphone for live sessions.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $340 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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