A marine structure is only as good as the way it is built. Design drawings define what should exist, but fabrication planning, joining, inspection, lifting and quality control determine whether a hull, a concrete element or a composite component actually performs in service. This course looks at the planning, construction and quality control of marine structures made from steel, concrete and composites. Topics run from Work Breakdown Structures and through-life QA/QC, through the logic behind the order of vessel fabrication stages, to the pros and cons of welding, brazing, bolting and riveting with matching inspection methods, checks on fasteners, rigging and lifts against capacity and safety margin, durable concrete and composite fabrication with its testing and quality control, and a structured way of tackling real engineering problems. Two team design projects run through the course and tie the theory to how a real component would be built, checked and documented.
Course at a glance: Duration 20 hours · Self-paced online · 10 sections, 42 lessons, a 179-page downloadable course book
What you will learn
- Plan a marine fabrication project using a Work Breakdown Structure and a lifecycle QA/QC approach.
- Explain a vessel production sequence and justify why major fabrication stages are ordered as they are.
- Plan a temporary assembly site for vessels delivered as subassemblies.
- Compare welding, brazing, bolting and riveting for marine structures and select suitable inspection approaches.
- Apply fastening, rigging and lifting principles to check load capacity and safety margins.
- Evaluate concrete and composite fabrication choices for durability, testing and quality control.
- Solve practical engineering problems using a disciplined, step-by-step method.
Inside the course: a high-level summary, section by section.
Engineering workflow and professional conduct
The course opens by setting out an engineering workflow for fabrication problems and the professional conduct expected in labs and shop environments. The emphasis is on working methodically: define the problem, identify what is known, choose an approach, check assumptions and present results clearly. That discipline underpins every later topic, from lifting checks to concrete mix control.
Team projects, WBS and QA/QC planning
Two team design projects turn fabrication theory into practice. Beyond the design of a component, the course stresses planning how it will really be made, inspected and recorded. Both projects revolve around four deliverables: fabrication steps and layout, a preliminary structural design, a QA/QC plan and a cost estimate. Building a Work Breakdown Structure breaks the project into manageable packages, and QA and QC planning is treated as a lifecycle activity, running from material receipt through fabrication and inspection to delivery, rather than a final inspection at the end.
Vessel build sequence and shipyard flow
A real production run of a 49-foot buoy utility stern loading (BUSL) boat is used to show a shipyard sequence rather than a simplified textbook diagram. Manufacture starts once the concept has been validated with a prototype, the production drawings are finished and items with long delivery times are on order. The course explains why each stage happens when it does and how the sequence protects quality, cost and schedule. General shipyard flow is then discussed. A temporary assembly yard scenario shifts the setting from a fixed shipyard to a bare waterfront lot, where steel patrol boats arrive as subassemblies in shipping containers; learners think like yard designers under constraints, working out what must exist before assembly can begin and how the site should be organised.
Joining, inspection and durability
Joints set the limit on a structure’s reliability, and the joining method chosen influences durability, ease of inspection and in-service behaviour. Learners consider the weak spots of a weld, the reasons failure starts there and how to pick an inspection technique suited to the defect in question. Welding, brazing, bolting and riveting are compared by asking what each joint is expected to do in service and how its soundness will be confirmed after fabrication or during service. Destructive testing, non-destructive examination and the durability of steel in marine environments are discussed, and a repair design scenario applies these ideas to a damaged structure.
Fastening, rigging and lifting
Fastening fundamentals cover how bolted and other mechanical connections carry load. On rigging, the course explains that capacity is read from markings, maker’s tables and working load limits, that flatter sling angles raise the tension in each leg, and that side-loading can lower the rating of parts such as shackles. Factor of safety checks compare demand with capacity and identify the weakest component in the load path. The course encourages reasoning through the load path in words before calculating, a habit that catches many errors before they become accidents. Worked calculation methods then show how these checks are set out systematically.
Concrete fabrication
Concrete is used in a range of marine structures. It discusses the influence of the water-cement ratio on strength and permeability, the balance between a mix that can be placed and compacted and one that survives seawater, and the QA/QC checks that compare the real mix, pour and cure with what was specified. Post-tensioning, which compresses concrete after it has gained strength and helps control cracking, is explained along with why ducts, anchorages, tendons and stressing must be part of the fabrication sequence from the start rather than treated as an add-on. Concrete QA and testing complete the section.
Composite fabrication
Composite construction is introduced through the open-mould hand lay-up process: preparing the mould, placing reinforcement, wetting out, adding plies, consolidating and curing. Fibre orientation, resin content and air removal determine laminate quality, and because the operator controls almost every step, workmanship matters. Common defects and durability concerns are discussed, along with composite QA practices that link inspection to process control.
Problem solving and review
The final section brings the material together through conceptual and quantitative problem solving and review preparation. Learners practise explaining fabrication decisions in words as well as carrying out checks, reflecting the way fabrication engineers must justify choices to colleagues, clients and inspectors.
Why this matters in practice
Fabrication engineers, shipyard planners, inspectors and project engineers make decisions every day about build sequence, joining, lifting and quality control. Understanding how steel, concrete and composite structures are planned, built and checked helps them deliver structures that are safe to build, durable in service and properly documented.
Key takeaways
You leave able to plan a fabrication project with a WBS and lifecycle QA/QC, explain and justify a vessel build sequence, compare joining methods and inspection approaches, check rigging and lifting arrangements against capacity and safety margins, and evaluate concrete and composite fabrication for durability and quality.
How you study
The course is delivered fully online and is self-paced, so you can fit roughly 20 hours of study around professional commitments. Lessons combine clear explanation with examples, diagrams and short interactive checks, and the main sections end with graded quizzes (7 in total) so you can confirm you can apply each method before moving on. A 179-page course book can be downloaded and printed for offline reading and later reference.
Course contents
- Course Framework: Scope and prerequisites; Grading and assessments; Engineering workflow; Labs and professional conduct; Section review questions
- Project Planning: The two team projects; Deliverables and grading; Building a WBS; QA and QC planning; Section review questions
- Shipyard Production: BUSL build sequence; Why the order matters; General shipyard flow; Temporary assembly yard; Section review questions
- Metal Joining and NDT: Why joints matter; Weld failure and NDT; Joining method trade-offs; DT, NDE, and steel durability; Repair design scenario; Section review questions
- Rigging and Lifting: Fastening fundamentals; Rigging hardware and loads; Factor of safety checks; Worked calculation methods; Section review questions
- Marine Concrete: Concrete project context; Durability and mix control; Post-tensioning and fabrication; Concrete QA and testing; Section review questions
- Marine Composites: Composite build context; Hand lay-up process; Defects and durability; Composite QA practices; Section review questions
- Summary: Key Takeaways
Who this course is for
This course is for engineering students and graduates, shipyard and fabrication engineers, inspectors and project engineers who need a practical grounding in marine fabrication across steel, concrete and composite structures.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Marine Fabrication Methods take?
The course is designed for about 20 hours of study. It is self-paced and fully online, so you can spread it over a few weeks or complete it more quickly.
What is covered?
The course is organised into 10 sections with 42 lessons, moving from foundations to applied methods, as summarised above.
Is there material to keep after the course?
Yes. A downloadable 179-page course book accompanies the lessons for offline reading and later reference.
How is progress checked?
Each main section closes with a graded quiz (7 in total, with a pass mark of 80%). The quizzes test understanding of the concepts and methods explained in the lessons rather than memorisation, and you can review the relevant lessons before attempting them.
Can I record this study for my own professional development?
Yes. The course notebook includes a self-assessment of the course objectives before and after study, a reflection page and a learning log, which you can use to keep your own record of professional development.
Duration: 20 hours
Related courses: L01 – Introduction to Ship Production; L05 – Manufacturing Processes for Maritime Technology; L03 – Ship Production Organization Project; K02 – Marine Structural Composites & High-Speed Craft
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Study at your own pace and work through the full course material, worked examples and section quizzes. Enrol in L02 – Marine Fabrication Methods →
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