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Master'sNaval, Offshore & Sports Nautical Applications open

Master’s in High-Speed Hull Design Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in high-speed hull design engineering. 12 modules covering high-speed hydrodynamics, planing prediction methods, planing hull forms, fast multihulls, hydrofoils, seakeeping and structural loads at high speed, high-speed propulsion, CFD and testing, lightweight materials, and certification under the HSC Code and Directive 2013/53/EU, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the hydrodynamics of the semi-planing and planing regimes.

02

Predict resistance using the Savitsky method and systematic series.

03

Design planing and multihull forms.

04

Size hydrofoils and control systems.

05

Evaluate seakeeping and impact loads.

06

Select high-speed propulsion systems.

07

Certify fast craft in line with regulations.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Fast craft design engineers.
  • Yacht naval architects.
  • Hydrodynamics engineers.
  • Racing boat designers.
  • Marine propulsion engineers.
  • Nautical certification engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the leisure boating industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • HSC Code 2000 (International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft)
  • Directive 2013/53/EU (recreational craft)
  • ISO 12215-5:2019 (small craft scantlings)
  • ISO 12217-1:2015 (stability of non-sailing boats)
  • ISO 2631-1:1997 (human exposure to vibration)
  • ITTC Recommended Procedures for high-speed craft
  • DNV rules for high-speed and light craft
  • Maxsurf Resistance
  • Simcenter Star-CCM+
  • Rhinoceros
  • Orca3D
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Displacement, semi-planing and planing regimes
  2. 1.2Volumetric Froude number
  3. 1.3Hydrodynamic lift of the hull
  4. 1.4Pressure distribution
  5. 1.5Spray and spray roots
  6. 1.6Planing resistance
  7. 1.7Dynamic trim and porpoising
  8. 1.8Dynamic stability when planing
  9. 1.9Bottom ventilation
  10. 1.10Case study: classifying the regime of five craft
  1. 2.1Savitsky method
  2. 2.2Blount and Fox method
  3. 2.3Series 62 and 65 systematic series
  4. 2.4Effect of deadrise angle
  5. 2.5Effect of the centre of gravity
  6. 2.6Appendages and forces
  7. 2.7Power prediction
  8. 2.8Limitations of the methods
  9. 2.9Comparison with tests
  10. 2.10Lab: Savitsky calculation in a spreadsheet
  1. 3.1Deep-V hulls
  2. 3.2Strakes and steps
  3. 3.3Ventilated stepped hulls
  4. 3.4Bilge and chine
  5. 3.5Tunnel hulls
  6. 3.6Bow forms for waves
  7. 3.7Sterns and transoms
  8. 3.8Spray rail design
  9. 3.9Comparison of forms
  10. 3.10Workshop: hull form design for a 12 m motorboat
  1. 4.1High-speed catamarans
  2. 4.2Hull interference
  3. 4.3Hull separation
  4. 4.4High-speed trimarans
  5. 4.5SWATH small-waterplane-area hulls
  6. 4.6Pentamarans and hybrid concepts
  7. 4.7Multihull stability
  8. 4.8Cross-deck loads
  9. 4.9Commercial applications of multihulls
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: hull separation study for a catamaran
  1. 5.1Submerged hydrofoil sections
  2. 5.2Surface-piercing and fully submerged hydrofoils
  3. 5.3Flight control
  4. 5.4Cavitation and ventilation
  5. 5.5Take-off and transition
  6. 5.6Materials and structure
  7. 5.7Hydrofoils in racing
  8. 5.8Hydrofoils in electric passenger craft
  9. 5.9Stability in flight
  10. 5.10Lab: sizing a hydrofoil
  1. 6.1Vertical accelerations at the bow
  2. 6.2Impacts and slamming
  3. 6.3Human exposure criteria
  4. 6.4ISO 2631 standard
  5. 6.5Shock-mitigating crew seats
  6. 6.6Active trim control
  7. 6.7Interceptors and trim flaps
  8. 6.8Operation in rough seas
  9. 6.9Crew safety
  10. 6.10Case study: acceleration analysis of a patrol boat
  1. 7.1Impact pressures
  2. 7.2Rule methods
  3. 7.3ISO 12215-5 standard
  4. 7.4Loads under the HSC Code
  5. 7.5Pressure distribution on the hull
  6. 7.6Loads on steps
  7. 7.7Loads on hydrofoils
  8. 7.8Impact testing
  9. 7.9Panel design
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: design pressures for a fast motorboat
  1. 8.1Supercavitating propellers for high speeds
  2. 8.2Surface-piercing propellers
  3. 8.3Waterjet propulsion
  4. 8.4Sterndrives
  5. 8.5IPS pod drives
  6. 8.6System selection
  7. 8.7Comparative efficiency of systems
  8. 8.8Air ingestion and ventilation
  9. 8.9Interaction with the hull
  10. 8.10Workshop: choosing between a waterjet and a surface-piercing propeller
  1. 9.1Free-body CFD
  2. 9.2Overset meshes for free-body motion
  3. 9.3Trim prediction
  4. 9.4Spray simulation
  5. 9.5High-speed towing tank tests
  6. 9.6Free-running model tests
  7. 9.7Sea trials
  8. 9.8Sea trial instrumentation
  9. 9.9Model–ship correlation
  10. 9.10Lab: CFD simulation of a stepped hull
  1. 10.1Importance of weight in planing
  2. 10.2Weight estimation
  3. 10.3Carbon composites
  4. 10.4Welded aluminium structures
  5. 10.5Composite sandwich structures
  6. 10.6Weight optimisation
  7. 10.7Centre of gravity
  8. 10.8Weight control during construction
  9. 10.9Material costs
  10. 10.10Case study: weight reduction of a workboat
  1. 11.1Recreational Craft Directive
  2. 11.2Application of the HSC Code
  3. 11.3Classification rules for high-speed craft
  4. 11.4ISO 12217 stability
  5. 11.5Safety requirements
  6. 11.6Workboats
  7. 11.7Speed and noise
  8. 11.8Engine emissions
  9. 11.9Certification file
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: certification route for a fast motorboat
  1. 12.1Mission requirements
  2. 12.2Choice of hull type
  3. 12.3Hull form design
  4. 12.4Resistance prediction
  5. 12.5Propulsion selection
  6. 12.6Seakeeping
  7. 12.7Structure and weights
  8. 12.8Validation of the proposed design
  9. 12.9Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Maxsurf Resistance, Simcenter Star-CCM+, Rhinoceros and Orca3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied through real procedures: Savitsky resistance prediction for a planing craft, CFD simulation of a stepped hull and sizing of a hydrofoil. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: HSC Code 2000, Directive 2013/53/EU, ISO 12215-5:2019, ISO 12217-1:2015, ISO 2631-1:1997, ITTC Recommended Procedures for high-speed craft, DNV rules for high-speed and light craft.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the HSC Code 2000, Directive 2013/53/EU and ISO 12215-5 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Maxsurf Resistance, Simcenter Star-CCM+, Rhinoceros and Orca3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:The complete design of a high-speed craft, from mission and hull form to propulsion, structure and validation, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Hull form design
Design the hull form of a planing craft for its mission.
Resistance prediction
Predict resistance and power using the Savitsky method.
Stepped hull CFD
Simulate a stepped hull with free-body CFD.
Propulsion and loads
Select the propulsion system and calculate design pressures to ISO 12215-5.
Master's Thesis
Complete and validate the design of a high-speed craft, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Fast craft design engineerYacht naval architectHydrodynamics engineerRacing boat designerMarine propulsion engineerNautical certification engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Maxsurf Resistance, Simcenter Star-CCM+, Rhinoceros and Orca3D, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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