Module overview
Maritime engineering underpins global trade, offshore energy, defence, transportation and the sustainable use of our oceans. Modern ships, offshore structures and marine systems operate in complex and demanding environments, requiring engineers who can integrate knowledge from across multiple disciplines to develop safe, efficient and innovative solutions.
In this module, you will develop the core engineering knowledge that forms the foundation of maritime engineering. You will explore the fundamental principles that govern the design, performance and operation of ships and marine systems, while strengthening your analytical, mathematical and engineering problem-solving skills. Through lectures, tutorials and applied engineering examples, you will learn how different areas of maritime engineering connect and how engineers use scientific principles to address real-world maritime challenges.
By the end of the module, you will have established a strong understanding of the key concepts that underpin naval architecture and maritime engineering. You will be equipped to engage confidently with more specialised topics in hydrodynamics, ship design, marine structures and marine systems, while developing the technical foundation needed for advanced study and future careers across the maritime, offshore and ocean engineering sectors.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Explain fundamental physical (geometric, hydrostatic & hydrodynamic and structural), economic and control concepts utilising appropriate mathematical formulations.
- Comprehend the basic concepts of a number of interrelated fundamental topics to allow meaningful appreciation of why these subjects need to be pursued to advanced levels and how an integrated approach is used to solve complex problems in the modern marine industry.
- Explain how the structural strength concepts are applied to simple structural forms and to the design of the midships-section of a ship.
- Select main propulsion machinery suitable for ship propulsion, with an understanding on the impact on the environment, economics and structure of the ship.
- Recognise and appreciate the fundamental concepts used to provide estimates of the resistance components of ships and the provision of an appropriate means of propulsion using basic propeller design methods and how these are implemented in design software.
- Appreciate the approaches used in real and inviscid fluid mechanics and be able to undertake basic analysis of simplified flows
- Recognise conflicts within the design process and the need for technical, economic, environmental, societal and safety considerations within a ship design.
- Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical tools required to undertake practical calculations.
Partial CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- As part of an individual ship design select suitable machinery for the propulsion of ship.
- Exam questions solving complex problems relating to fundamentals of maritime engineering covering hydrostatics, fluid mechanics, resistance and propulsion, ship design and economics, ship structures, and marine engineering and control.
- Use specialist naval architecture software to analyse and design a ship which meets commercial requirements. The techniques cover ship design and economics model, hydrostatics, ship resistance, propeller design and ship structures.
- Ship design is a systems design approach so in completing the ship design, students look at the overall design but break down into function driven components.
- Analyse the components of an existing ship design, before synthesizing a new design and integrating the elements of ship stability, powering, control and hull strength.
- As an individual design a ship which meets commercial requirements and meets industry standards including emissions limits such as EEDI.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Apply that knowledge to select and apply the appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model the components of a ship design covering ship design and economics; hydrostatics; ship structures; resistance and propulsion; marine engineering and control. Using your knowledge in these topics to recognise the limitation of the methods used.
- Possess sufficient fundamental knowledge in the identified subject areas to those without a naval architecture first degree to undertake other courses within the MSc programme
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and the technical language associated with each of the topics covered
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Function effectively as an individual, and as a member of a team to produce a ship design incorporating the technical elements covered in this module.
Syllabus
Fluid Mechanics: Overviews the Fundamental concepts underpinning fluid motions and forces as used in many of the other topics.
Ship Hydrostatics: Fundamental concepts of the equilibrium and stability of floating bodies including volume and mass effects. An introduction to maritime transport.
Ship Resistance & Propulsion: Introduction to ship resistance and propulsion with associated definitions.
Ship Structures: The longitudinal strength of ship hull girder and the associated structural components and nomenclature.
Ship Design & Economics: Introduction to Ship Design, Operation and Economics.
Marine Engineering and Control: Overview of main engine selection considerations and typical machinery layouts. Stern tubes and seals. Basic control theory.
Computing: An introduction to the python language and numerical methods in packages such as NumPy, SciPy and Pandas.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Lecture method:
Explanations / derivations of analysis methods and design procedures. Demonstration of analytical, numerical, and experimental methods introduced under the different subject headings. The lectures are completed in weeks zero.
Learning activities include:
• Questioning of students’ understanding during lectures. Sample questions circulated and a diverse set of coursework tasks.
• Completion of coursework.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 25 |
| Follow-up work | 25 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Tutorial | 12 |
| Lecture | 24 |
| Wider reading or practice | 10 |
| Total study time | 136 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Reference material. indicated through specific references / reference lists or bibliographies as appropriate to course material for each topic.
Lecture Notes. Summary lecture notes are circulated before arrival at University and during the course via the blackboard site
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Final Assessment | 50% |
| Continuous Assessment | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External