Master’s in Marine Casualty Investigation and Salvage Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in marine casualty investigation and maritime salvage engineering. 12 modules covering the casualty investigation framework, investigation methodologies, human factors, casualty types, stability and technical analysis, search and rescue, salvage of ships and property, pollution response, forensic surveying and maritime law and insurance, with an assigned technical tutor.
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What you will be able to do
Apply the international framework for marine casualty investigation.
Use causal analysis methodologies.
Assess the influence of human factors.
Carry out technical analysis of stability and structure after a casualty.
Plan search and rescue operations.
Design ship salvage and pollution response operations.
Prepare expert reports and safety recommendations.
Who it's for
- Marine casualty investigators.
- Marine surveyors and naval experts.
- Maritime rescue coordinators.
- Maritime safety inspectors.
- Salvage consultants.
- Maritime safety analysts.
- Engineering and science graduates seeking to join the maritime administration.
What you'll work with
- Resolution MSC.255(84) (IMO Casualty Investigation Code)
- Directive 2009/18/EC (investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector)
- SOLAS Convention (safety of life at sea)
- SAR Convention 1979 (maritime search and rescue)
- International Convention on Salvage 1989 (salvage operations and rewards)
- MARPOL Convention (prevention of pollution from ships)
- COLREG (international regulations for preventing collisions at sea)
- IS Code 2008 (intact stability)
- SARIS
- GNOME
- Maxsurf
- ANSYS
- TRANSAS NTPRO
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1IMO Casualty Investigation Code1.2Directive 2009/18/EC on accident investigation1.3Spanish Standing Commission for Maritime Accident and Incident Investigation (CIAIM)1.4Classification of marine casualties and incidents1.5Independence of the investigation1.6Technical versus judicial investigation1.7EMSA's EMCIP platform1.8International investigation bodies1.9Publication of reports and recommendations1.10Case study: analysis of a CIAIM report
2.1Evidence collection after a casualty2.2Interviews with witnesses and crew2.3Voyage data recorders (VDR)2.4Timeline analysis2.5ECFA causal analysis method2.6Reason's Swiss cheese model2.7Maritime HFACS analysis2.8Systemic methods: AcciMap and STAMP2.9Drafting safety recommendations2.10Workshop: timeline of a collision from VDR data
3.1Human error in ship operation3.2Fatigue and hours of rest3.3Bridge resource management3.4Communication and language barriers3.5Decision-making under pressure3.6STCW training and competence3.7Safety culture on board3.8Commercial and organisational pressure3.9Bridge ergonomics3.10Practical exercise: HFACS analysis of a grounding
4.1Collisions and the COLREG rules4.2Groundings and strandings4.3Fires and explosions on board4.4Flooding and loss of stability4.5Hull structural failures4.6Loss of propulsion or steering4.7Occupational accidents on board4.8Man overboard4.9Container losses4.10Case study: reconstruction of a collision in restricted waters
5.1Intact stability and IS 2008 criteria5.2SOLAS damage stability5.3Cargo shift and its effect5.4Free surface effect in tanks5.5Longitudinal strength analysis5.6Numerical models of progressive flooding5.7Towing tank testing5.8Wreckage analysis and metallography5.9Manoeuvring simulation5.10Laboratory: stability calculation after a hull breach
6.1SAR Convention and IAMSAR Manual6.2Organisation of maritime rescue in Spain (Salvamento Marítimo)6.3Rescue coordination centres6.4GMDSS and emergency beacons6.5Search and drift planning6.6Air and maritime rescue assets6.7Rescue in adverse conditions6.8Survival at sea6.9International rescue coordination6.10Practical exercise: search pattern with SARIS
7.1International Convention on Salvage 19897.2Lloyd's Open Form contract7.3Emergency towing7.4Refloating grounded ships7.5Fuel and cargo transfer7.6Stability assessment in salvage7.7Wreck removal and the Nairobi Convention7.8SCOPIC special compensation7.9Historical salvage cases7.10Case study: refloating plan for a bulk carrier
8.1MARPOL and OPRC Conventions8.2Spanish National Marine Pollution Plan8.3Booms and mechanical recovery8.4Dispersants and their use8.5Oil drift models8.6Shoreline clean-up8.7Places of refuge8.8Lessons from the Prestige8.9Liability and IOPC Funds8.10Workshop: spill drift model with GNOME
9.1Marine damage surveying9.2Underwater inspection with ROV9.3Fracture analysis9.4Laboratory materials testing9.5Electronic data analysis9.6Surveying of shipboard fires9.7Damage valuation9.8Structure of the expert report9.9Acting as an expert witness in court9.10Practical exercise: expert report on an engine room failure
10.1Spanish Maritime Navigation Act10.2Shipowner liability10.3Collisions and liability10.4General average and the York-Antwerp Rules10.5P&I club cover10.6Hull and machinery insurance10.7Limitation of liability10.8Salvage claims10.9Maritime arbitration and mediation10.10Case study: general average adjustment
11.1Incident reporting systems11.2Analysis of casualty trends11.3Recommendations and their follow-up11.4Casualty databases11.5Safety management under the ISM Code11.6Training based on lessons learned11.7Simulators for training11.8Proactive safety indicators11.9Just culture in the maritime sector11.10Laboratory: statistical analysis of casualties in EMCIP
12.1Selection of the casualty or case study12.2Collection of evidence and data12.3Reconstruction of the sequence of events12.4Technical and human factors analysis12.5Identification of causes12.6Safety recommendations12.7Prevention proposals12.8Investigation conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SARIS, GNOME, Maxsurf, ANSYS, TRANSAS NTPRO, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is studied on real procedures for marine casualty reconstruction, search and rescue planning and damage stability assessment. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Resolution MSC.255(84), Directive 2009/18/EC, SOLAS Convention, SAR Convention 1979, International Convention on Salvage 1989, MARPOL Convention, COLREG, IS Code 2008.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An 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.
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 SARIS, GNOME, Maxsurf, ANSYS, TRANSAS NTPRO, 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 programme's 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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