Ship Simulators Course
This course shows you how maritime simulators work and how they are used to train, assess and validate ship handling, from heavy weather to complex port maneuvers. You will learn how simulators are built, how ship models and environments are configured, how bridge and engine room exercises are run and how performance is evaluated, so you can use simulation to face the challenges of the sea with confidence and precision.
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 Ship Simulators Course?
This short course explains maritime simulation from the inside: what simulators are for, how they are built and how a realistic exercise is designed, run and assessed. You will study the types of simulator, from bridge, engine room and cargo to port maneuvering, towing and multi-station integrated systems; their hardware, software, physics engines and instructor stations; levels of fidelity; ship dynamics and the modeling of hull, propulsion and rudder; wind, current, waves and visibility; port and channel configuration and COLREG traffic; bridge equipment, passage planning, berthing and Bridge Resource Management; and engine room plants, auxiliary systems, alarms and fault handling.
What sets this course apart: it covers both sides of the simulator, the operator who handles the ship and the instructor who designs the scenario; it links the bridge and the engine room through critical situations such as loss of power and emergency maneuvers; it treats non-technical skills such as resource management, communication and cross-checking of decisions as seriously as ship handling; and it ends with an integrated project in which you configure, run and evaluate a complete simulator scenario. Navalis teaches the subject matter; any official certificate of competency is issued by the competent maritime authority.
Program highlights
- Maritime simulation foundations: simulator types, system architecture and levels of fidelity.
- Ship modeling: dynamics, hull, propulsion and rudder, calibrated maneuvering behavior.
- Scenario design: weather, currents, waves, ports, channels and COLREG traffic situations.
- Bridge simulation: radar, ECDIS, AIS, passage planning, berthing and Bridge Resource Management.
- Engine room simulation: propulsion plants, auxiliary systems, alarms and fault troubleshooting.
- Integrated project: configure, run and assess a complete scenario with a final report.
Syllabus of the Ship Simulators Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of maritime simulation, simulator types and technological architecture for training and operational validation
- 1.1. Concept and functions of maritime simulators: training, competence assessment, maneuver analysis and validation of procedures
- 1.2. Types of ship simulator: bridge, engine room, cargo, port maneuvering, emergencies, towing and integrated multi-station environments
- 1.3. Architecture of a professional maritime simulator: hardware, software, physics engines, visualization, consoles and instructor systems
- 1.4. Levels of fidelity and operational realism: hydrodynamic modeling, visual environment, equipment behavior and ship response
- 1.5. Critical variables of the simulated environment: waves, wind, currents, tides, traffic, visibility and port restrictions
Ship modeling, maneuvering dynamics and scenario configuration for realistic simulation of maritime operations
- 2.1. Foundations of ship dynamics in simulation: inertia, steering, propulsion, leeway, drift and response in different regimes
- 2.2. Modeling of hull, propulsion and rudder: main parameters, response curves and calibration of maneuvering behavior
- 2.3. Simulation of environmental conditions: wind, currents, waves, reduced visibility and hydrodynamic effects on navigation
- 2.4. Configuration of ports, channels, anchorages and restricted areas: geometry, aids to navigation and operational constraints
- 2.5. Creation of traffic and complex scenarios: target ships, COLREG interaction, congestion, crossing situations and risk situations
Bridge, navigation and maneuvering simulation: equipment operation, decision-making and resource coordination
- 3.1. Simulation of bridge equipment: radar, ECDIS, AIS, GNSS, autopilot, echo sounder and navigation alarm systems
- 3.2. Passage planning and execution in a simulated environment: routes, safety margins, track control and management of deviations
- 3.3. Berthing, unberthing, anchoring and navigation in restricted waters: coordination, fine control and use of tugs and pilots
- 3.4. Bridge Resource Management in the simulator: task allocation, communication, leadership and cross-checking of decisions
- 3.5. Management of abnormal situations and bridge emergencies: man overboard, steering failure, loss of propulsion and risk of collision
Engine room simulation, auxiliary systems and technical response to failures in ship operation
- 4.1. Simulation of propulsion plants and marine engines: start-up, loading, parameter control and performance monitoring
- 4.2. Simulated operation of auxiliary systems: fuel, lubrication, cooling, compressed air, electrical power and engine room services
- 4.3. Management of alarms and protections in the engine room: diagnosis, response sequence and stabilization of the system
- 4.4. Simulation of mechanical, electrical and automation failures: troubleshooting, root cause analysis and safe recovery
- 4.5. Bridge and engine room coordination in critical scenarios: loss of power, emergency maneuvers and contingency management
Integrated project: configuring, running and assessing a complete ship simulator scenario
- 5.1. Definition of the simulation case: ship type, operating environment, training objectives and main risks of the exercise
- 5.2. Technical configuration of the scenario: ship model, environmental conditions, traffic, equipment and assessment parameters
- 5.3. Running the simulation session: briefing, operational execution, critical events and control of variables by the instructor
- 5.4. Comprehensive performance assessment: maneuvering, decision-making, resource coordination and response to incidents
- 5.5. Preparation of the final simulation report: findings, deviations, strengths, recommendations and improvement plan
Duration and format of the Ship Simulators Course
It is 300 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 Ship Simulators Course
Career opportunities after the Ship Simulators Course
Questions about the Ship Simulators Course
To train and assess navigation and ship-handling skills in a safe, controlled environment, where complex maneuvers, equipment failures and emergencies can be practiced without real consequences.
Bridge, engine room, cargo, port maneuvering, emergency and towing simulators, as well as integrated multi-station environments where bridge and engine room work together.
Yes. You will learn to configure ship models, weather, currents, ports, channels and COLREG traffic, and the final project asks you to set up, run and assess a complete scenario.
Yes. One module focuses on task allocation, communication, leadership and cross-checking of decisions on the bridge, applied to simulated passages, berthing and emergencies.
No. Navalis teaches the subject matter; certificates of competency and mandatory simulator training are issued and approved by the competent maritime authority. The course is a solid complement to the certificates you already hold.
Yes. Engine officers, boat handlers, port staff, naval engineering students and simulation enthusiasts can all follow it, provided they have some familiarity with navigation and ship systems.
Through practical exercises in each module and an integrated project in which you define a simulation case, configure the scenario, assess performance and write a final report with recommendations.
More programs in Bridge and navigation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at deck and engine officers, boat handlers and port staff who want to train in a simulated environment, naval engineering and naval architecture students, shipyard and shipping company staff evaluating ship performance, researchers modeling ship behavior, and simulation enthusiasts; a vocational qualification in boat operation or proven experience handling vessels is recommended, together with familiarity with navigation, safety procedures and basic marine engineering.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer that meets the minimum specifications of the simulation software used in the course, a stable broadband internet connection and a headset with microphone.
- 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.