Postgraduate Diploma in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems. 8 modules with ISO 20816-1 (mechanical vibration: measurement and evaluation), ISO 13373-1 (vibration condition monitoring) and SKF @ptitude Analyst. Assigned 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 the failure modes of propulsion systems.
Compare corrective, preventive and condition-based maintenance strategies.
Apply vibration analysis to the diagnosis of propulsion systems.
Interpret oil analysis and wear particle data.
Use thermography, ultrasonics and other complementary techniques.
Combine data from multiple techniques for diagnosis.
Implement a condition-based maintenance programme across the fleet.
Who it's for
- Vibration analyst looking to specialise in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems.
- Chief engineer looking to specialise in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems.
- Propulsion maintenance engineer looking to specialise in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems.
- Machinery superintendent looking to specialise in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems.
- Lubricant analysis technician looking to specialise in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems.
- Naval reliability engineer looking to specialise in Condition-Based Maintenance of Propulsion Systems.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter shipping companies.
What you'll work with
- ISO 20816-1 (mechanical vibration: measurement and evaluation)
- ISO 13373-1 (vibration condition monitoring)
- ISO 13379-1 (machine condition diagnosis)
- ISO 18436-2 (certification of vibration analysts)
- ISO 4406 (fluid cleanliness code)
- ASTM D6224 (in-service oil monitoring)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Fixed and controllable pitch propellers1.2Azimuth thrusters, POD and waterjets1.3Shafting lines, plummer blocks and stern tubes1.4Gearboxes and couplings1.5Stern tube seals and lubrication1.6Failure modes and their mechanisms1.7FMECA analysis of the propulsion line1.8Criticality and operational consequences1.9Historical propulsion failure records1.10Practice: FMECA of an azimuth thruster
2.1Corrective, preventive, predictive and proactive maintenance2.2ISO 17359 standard for condition monitoring2.3Reliability-centred maintenance (RCM)2.4P-F curve and inspection intervals2.5CM and PMS class notations2.6Class rules for shaft inspection extension2.7Maintenance indicators2.8Life-cycle costs2.9Dry-dock planning2.10Workshop: RCM strategy for a controllable pitch propeller
3.1Principles and vibration quantities3.2Sensors: accelerometers and proximity probes3.3ISO 20816 standard for vibration evaluation3.4FFT spectral analysis3.5Unbalance, misalignment and looseness3.6Envelope analysis for bearings3.7Blade and gear mesh frequencies3.8Orbits and phase analysis3.9Torsional vibration of shafts3.10Practice: spectrum diagnosis of a gearbox
4.1Representative oil sampling4.2Viscosity, TAN and water in oil4.3Wear element spectrometry4.4ISO 4406 particle counting4.5Ferrography and particle analysis4.6Seawater ingress into stern tubes4.7EAL and VGP biodegradable oils4.8Alarm limits and trends4.9Integration with the maintenance plan4.10Case study: interpreting a stern tube oil report
5.1Infrared thermography of bearings and electrical equipment5.2Bearing wear measurement5.3Plummer block temperature monitoring5.4Ultrasonics and acoustic emission5.5ROV and diver inspection5.6Propeller blade cavitation monitoring5.7Monitoring of pitch hydraulic systems5.8Shaft thrust and torque measurement5.9Wireless IoT sensors5.10Laboratory: thermography route in the engine room
6.1Data acquisition and quality6.2Equipment health indicators6.3Statistical anomaly detection6.4Supervised machine learning6.5Remaining useful life estimation6.6Physical models versus data models6.7Digital twins of the shafting line6.8Validation of predictive models6.9Visualisation and dashboards6.10Practice: anomaly detection model with Python
7.1Monitoring architecture and communications7.2Integration with maintenance management systems7.3Organisation and on-board roles7.4Crew training7.5Condition-based service contracts7.6Cyber-security of operational data7.7Class acceptance of CBM programmes7.8Return on investment7.9Lessons learned from fleets7.10Case study: CBM deployment on a tug fleet
8.1Selection of the propulsion system8.2FMECA analysis of the selected system8.3Definition of monitoring techniques8.4Instrumentation design8.5Definition of alarms and thresholds8.6Diagnostic model8.7Implementation plan and cost8.8Monitoring indicators8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SKF @ptitude Analyst, MATLAB, Python, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures: analysis of vibration spectra from shafting lines, interpretation of oil analysis, and fault diagnosis in gearboxes. Assessment is continuous, module by module, 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 the failure modes of propulsion systems.
Compare corrective, preventive and condition-based maintenance strategies.
Apply vibration analysis to the diagnosis of propulsion systems.
Interpret oil analysis and wear particle data.
Use thermography, ultrasonics and other complementary techniques.
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 Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. This is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with SKF @ptitude Analyst, MATLAB, Python and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be recognised towards the advanced programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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