Master’s in Shipyard Management and Shipbuilding Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in shipyard management and shipbuilding engineering: 12 modules covering ship design, shipyard strategy, contracting, naval project management, facilities, finance, procurement, classification and digital transformation, with an assigned technical tutor.
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
Develop the preliminary design of a ship.
Define the strategy and business model of a shipyard.
Manage shipbuilding bids and contracts.
Lead shipbuilding projects while controlling schedule and cost.
Plan facilities and production resources.
Analyse the economic and financial viability of contracts.
Lead the digital transformation of the shipyard.
Who it's for
- Naval project directors who want to strengthen their command of shipyard management.
- Shipyard managers looking for a structured view of strategy, contracts and production.
- Shipbuilding sales managers who prepare bids and negotiate with shipowners.
- Ship design engineers moving into project or commercial roles.
- Naval procurement managers responsible for critical equipment and suppliers.
- Industrial project controllers working on shipbuilding contracts.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join newbuilding shipyards.
What you'll work with
- SOLAS 74 (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea)
- MARPOL 73/78 (prevention of pollution from ships)
- International Convention on Load Lines 1966 (freeboard and load lines)
- 2008 IS Code (intact stability)
- IACS Rec. 47 (shipbuilding and repair quality standard)
- ISO 21500 (project management)
- ISO 9001 (quality management systems)
- Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 (General Block Exemption Regulation)
- AVEVA Marine
- NAPA
- Primavera P6
- SAP S/4HANA
- MS Project
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The ship design spiral1.2Preliminary sizing and form coefficients1.3General arrangement and subdivision1.4Weight estimation and centre of gravity1.5Intact stability and IS Code criteria1.6SOLAS damage stability1.7Structural scantlings with class rules1.8Selection of the propulsion plant1.9Contract technical specification1.10Practical exercise: preliminary sizing of a cargo ship
2.1Positioning by ship segment2.2Niche versus volume shipyards2.3Analysis of capabilities and facilities2.4Strategic plan and market scenarios2.5Industrial alliances and consortia2.6Diversification into offshore and repair2.7Public aid and the European framework2.8International competitive analysis2.9Strategic indicator scorecard2.10Case study: strategic plan for a medium-sized shipyard
3.1Tendering and bidding process3.2Parametric estimating for bids3.3SAJ and BIMCO NEWBUILDCON shipbuilding contracts3.4Payment milestones and bank guarantees3.5Speed and fuel consumption penalty clauses3.6Change orders and variations3.7Negotiating with shipowners3.8Claims management3.9Guarantee period3.10Workshop: negotiating a newbuilding contract
4.1Life cycle of a ship project4.2Matrix organisation of the shipyard4.3Project management plan4.4Work breakdown structure4.5Integrated schedule and cost control4.6Managing interfaces with suppliers4.7Project risk management4.8Communication with the shipowner and the surveyors4.9Closure and lessons learned4.10Case study: recovering a delayed project
5.1Dry docks, building berths and syncrolifts5.2Gantry cranes and lifting capacity5.3Material flow between workshops5.4Workshop sizing5.5Simulation of production flows5.6Investment in automation5.7Outfitting quays5.8Facility maintenance5.9Expansion and conversion of shipyards5.10Practical exercise: redesigning the layout of a block workshop
6.1Cost structure of a shipyard6.2Job-based cost accounting6.3Revenue recognition by percentage of completion6.4Cash flow of a contract6.5Construction financing and guarantees6.6Exchange-rate risk6.7Export credits6.8Profitability by project6.9Management control6.10Workshop: cash flow of a newbuilding
7.1In-house versus subcontracted workforce7.2Managing the auxiliary industry7.3Training in shipbuilding trades7.4Collective agreements and labour relations7.5Productivity by trade7.6Leadership of middle managers7.7Generational succession in shipbuilding trades7.8Safety as an organisational value7.9Managing cultural change7.10Case study: training plan for welders
8.1High-value equipment: engines and propulsion8.2Technical purchase specifications8.3Supplier evaluation and approval8.4Shipowner's approved makers list8.5Lead times for critical equipment8.6Factory inspection of equipment8.7Supplier documentation8.8Framework agreements with suppliers8.9Supply risks8.10Practical exercise: evaluating bids for a main engine
9.1Role of the classification society9.2Plan approval9.3Survey during construction9.4SOLAS, MARPOL and Load Lines conventions9.5Flag administrations9.6Delegation to recognised organisations9.7IACS quality standard9.8Material certification9.9Additional class notations9.10Case study: plan approval programme with the classification society
10.1Particular features of warships10.2Naval military standards10.3Industrial security and information protection10.4Research and oceanographic vessels10.5Cruise ships and passenger vessels10.6Superyacht construction10.7Offshore support vessels10.8Managing complexity in special vessels10.9Series construction programmes10.10Workshop: analysis of a frigate programme
11.1The Shipyard 4.0 concept11.2Model-based engineering11.3Digital twin of the ship under construction11.4PLM in shipbuilding11.5Additive manufacturing in shipbuilding11.6Welding robotisation11.7Virtual reality in design11.8Zero-emission ships11.9European naval R&D projects11.10Case study: digital roadmap for a shipyard
12.1Strategic diagnosis of the shipyard12.2Definition of the target ship12.3Technical and commercial bid12.4Project and production plan12.5Financial analysis of the project12.6Risk management12.7Conclusions and proposals12.8Review with the thesis supervisor12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online 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 AVEVA Marine, NAPA, Primavera P6, SAP S/4HANA and MS Project, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: preparing a newbuilding bid, planning a naval project end to end and analysing the finances of a shipbuilding contract. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: SOLAS 74, MARPOL 73/78, International Convention on Load Lines 1966, 2008 IS Code, IACS Rec. 47, ISO 21500, ISO 9001 and Regulation (EU) No 651/2014.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme 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 AVEVA Marine, NAPA, Primavera P6, SAP S/4HANA and MS Project, 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 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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