Postgraduate Diploma in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management. 8 modules covering the MARPOL 73/78 Convention and its Annexes I to VI, the BWM Convention 2004 (ballast water) and GNOME (NOAA). Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify sources of marine pollution from ships.
Apply the requirements of MARPOL Annex I to oil management.
Manage noxious liquid substances and wastewater in accordance with MARPOL.
Organise garbage management and its delivery to port reception facilities.
Assess the obligations relating to atmospheric emissions from ships.
Implement ballast water and biofouling management plans.
Design an environmental management and spill response system.
Who it's for
- Ship environmental officer looking to specialise in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management.
- Environmental superintendent looking to specialise in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management.
- Port State Control inspector looking to specialise in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management.
- Pollution response technician looking to specialise in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management.
- Port waste manager looking to specialise in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management.
- Maritime environmental consultant looking to specialise in Pollution Prevention and Waste Management.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter shipping companies.
What you'll work with
- MARPOL 73/78 Convention and its Annexes I to VI
- BWM Convention 2004 (ballast water)
- AFS Convention 2001 (anti-fouling systems)
- Directive (EU) 2019/883 (port reception facilities)
- OPRC Convention 1990 (oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation)
- IMO Guidelines on biofouling (Res. MEPC.378(80))
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Sources of marine pollution1.2Effects on coastal and oceanic ecosystems1.3The MARPOL Convention and its six Annexes1.4The London Convention on dumping1.5Special areas and emission control areas1.6Responsibility of the flag State and the port1.7Major spills: Prestige and Exxon Valdez1.8CLC and FUNDS liability regime1.9Environmental PSC inspections1.10Case study: analysis of the Prestige accident
2.1Oily bilge water2.215 ppm oil/water separators2.3Oil Record Book2.4Sludge and sediment tanks2.5Crude oil washing and slop tanks2.6Discharge monitoring equipment2.7SOPEP plan2.8Double hulls and tank protection2.9Reception facilities in port2.10Practical: audit of an Oil Record Book
3.1Noxious Liquid Substances: MARPOL Annex II 3.2 classification into categories x, and z 3.3 cargo record book and tank cleaning 3.4 harmful substances in Packaged form: Annex III 3.5 SEWAGE: MARPOL Annex IV 3.6 SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS 3.7 Greywater and Regional Requirements 3.8 Discharges in the Baltic and Special Areas 3.9 SMPEP Plan 3.10 Case Study: Tank Cleaning on a Chemical Tanker
4.1MARPOL Annex V and garbage categories4.2Garbage management plan4.3Garbage Record Book4.4Segregation, compaction and incineration4.5Plastics and fishing nets4.6Cargo residues4.7Directive (EU) 2019/883 on port reception facilities4.8Indirect waste fee4.9Hazardous waste on board4.10Workshop: garbage management plan for a cruise ship
5.1MARPOL Annex VI5.2Sulphur limits and SECA zones5.3Nitrogen oxides and Tier levels5.4Scrubbers and wash water5.5Ozone-depleting substances5.6On-board incinerators5.7Volatile organic compounds on tankers5.8Fuel sampling and certificates5.9Energy efficiency and CO25.10Laboratory: calculation of sulphur compliance in ECAs
6.1BWM Convention on ballast water6.2Regulation D-1 on exchange and D-2 on quality6.3Ballast water treatment systems6.4Management plan and Ballast Water Record Book6.5Sampling and compliance verification6.6AFS Convention on anti-fouling systems6.7Biofouling and IMO guidelines6.8In-water hull cleaning6.9Invasive species and documented cases6.10Practical: selection of a ballast water treatment system
7.1Spill Contingency Plans 7.2 Booms, Skimmers and Dispersants 7.3 Response Organization: Maritime Rescue and EMSA 7.4 Ship Recycling: Hong Kong Convention 7.5 Regulation (EU) 1257/2013 On Ship Recycling 7.6 Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) 7.7 ISO 14001 Management Systems 7.8 Environmental Audits 7.9 Sustainability Reporting 7.10 case study: Response to a spill in port
8.1Selection of the ship and its operation8.2Identification of environmental aspects8.3MARPOL compliance assessment8.4Waste management plan8.5Emissions reduction plan8.6Emergency response plan8.7Environmental indicators8.8Crew training plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GNOME (NOAA), QGIS, IMO GISIS, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assessments are based on real procedures for reviewing Oil and Garbage Record Books, drafting a SOPEP plan and simulating the drift of a spill. Assessment is continuous across modules, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Identify sources of marine pollution from ships.
Apply the requirements of MARPOL Annex I to oil management.
Manage noxious liquid substances and wastewater in accordance with MARPOL.
Organise garbage management and its delivery to port reception facilities.
Assess the obligations relating to atmospheric emissions from ships.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses GNOME (NOAA), QGIS, IMO GISIS and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating final project. It is an in-house qualification, not an official title from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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