A10 – Naval Architecture and Ship Production Technology (Part 1 of 4)
This course aims to introduce the ship design process and the regulatory framework that shapes it, from preliminary dimensioning and stability and seakeeping criteria to classification, IMO conventions, load lines and tonnage, so you can place early design decisions in their technical and statutory context.
£299.00
20 hours
Focused, self-paced learning designed to fit around professional schedules.
Online, self-paced
Study online at a pace that fits your schedule.
5 sections
Structured curriculum sections.
English
Language of instruction for this course.
Quiz count: 4 total
Knowledge checks and assessed activities.
37 lessons
Focused lessons organised into a clear learning path.
Course overview
Designed for: engineering graduates looking for refresher courses in niche expert areas.
Entry requirements: an engineering degree or equivalent experience; no prior naval architecture training is assumed. This is Part 1 of a four-part series.
Learning format: self-paced online lessons with audio read-out, review prompts at the end of key topics, two worked examples (stability and motion; load line and tonnage), an AI tutor to answer questions as you go, and graded quizzes. This suits the aim because this first part is about vocabulary, frameworks and criteria, so short reading lessons followed by worked numbers and a quiz after each topic build the base the later parts rely on.
What you will learn
Explain the iterative ship design process and the main stages from concept to detail design.
Identify the principal parties, criteria, and constraints that shape preliminary merchant-ship design.
Assess early-stage ship designs against intact-stability, classification, and IMO framework requirements.
Explain how load lines and tonnage measurement affect ship safety, regulation, and commercial operation.
Interpret the core concepts, examples and review questions of Modules 1–4.
Skills and knowledge
Ship design
Preliminary dimensioning
Stability criteria
Classification societies
IMO framework
Load lines
Tonnage measurement
Course curriculum
OT041 - Overview
1.1 Welcome
1.2 OT041 - Naval Architecture and Ship Production Technology
1.3 What this course is
1.4 What you'll learn
1.5 Course structure
1.6 Format and assessment
1.7 Note on scope
Course 1: Ship Design Process and Preliminary Dimensioning
2.1 The Ship Design Process
2.2 Entities involved in a ship design/build project
2.3 Classification societies: a brief history
2.4 Weather scales used in ship design and operation
2.5 Preliminary Ship Dimensioning
2.6 The Watson & Gilfillan approach
2.7 Quiz 1 (quiz)
Course 2: Design Criteria - Stability and Seakeeping Basis
3.1 Intact Stability Criteria
3.2 The Rahola criterion
3.3 Naval stability criteria (NES 109)
3.4 Ship Motion Periods
3.5 Roll period
3.6 Pitch and heave periods
3.7 Stability and Motion Worked Example
3.8 Quiz 2 (quiz)
Course 3: Classification Societies, Rules and the IMO Framework
4.1 What Is a Classification Society?
4.2 IACS - the International Association of Classification Societies
4.3 The International Maritime Organization (IMO)
4.4 Tacit acceptance
4.5 Quiz 3 (quiz)
Course 4: Load Lines and Tonnage Measurement
5.1 Load Lines
5.2 History
5.3 Ship type distinction
5.4 Freeboard formulae and marks
5.5 Tonnage Measurement
5.6 Historical background
5.7 Moorsom system and the modern convention
5.8 Shelter-deck ships
5.9 Load Line and Tonnage Worked Example
5.10 Quiz 4 (quiz)
Ready to enrol?
£299.00