Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Diploma · 800 h · 8 modules
Diploma in Nautical Risk and Crisis Management
This program prepares you to anticipate, prevent, and effectively manage emergencies in the maritime sector. You will learn to identify potential threats, develop robust contingency plans, and lead the response to critical…
Duration800 h
FormatOnline
Starts16 November
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Diploma in Nautical Risk and Crisis Management?
The Diploma in Nautical Risk and Crisis Management
This program prepares you to anticipate, prevent, and effectively manage emergencies in the maritime sector. You will learn to identify potential threats, develop robust contingency plans, and lead the response to critical situations, minimizing damage and protecting lives and property. This program integrates theoretical knowledge with practical simulations and real-world case studies, so you acquire the skills necessary to make strategic decisions under pressure.
Differential Advantages
- Advanced Risk Analysis: identification, assessment, and prioritization of nautical hazards.
- Development of Response Plans: action protocols, crisis communication, and inter-institutional coordination.
- Realistic Simulations: practical exercises for decision-making in emergency situations.
- Legal and Regulatory Framework: comprehensive knowledge of national and international regulations.
- Crisis Leadership: communication skills, team management, and decision-making under pressure.
Programme type
Diploma
Study mode
Online
Duration
800 hours
Modules
8
Start date
27-11-2026
Programme highlights
- Identification and Analysis: Master the techniques to detect and assess specific risks in the maritime sector, from operational threats to regulatory challenges.
- Mitigation Strategies: Learn to design and implement effective contingency plans and crisis response protocols to minimize impacts.
- Legal and Regulatory Framework: Delve into international and national maritime legislation, ensuring regulatory compliance and responsible risk management.
- Simulations and Case Studies: Participate in simulation exercises and analyze real-world cases to strengthen your decision-making skills under pressure.
- Tools for Management: Uses advanced software and methodologies for continuous risk monitoring and ongoing improvement of management plans.
- Prepare to lead in safety and resilience in the maritime sector, protecting lives, assets, and the environment.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 8 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Fundamentals of risk management in the nautical and maritime field
- Principles of risk management according to ISO 31000 standard applied to navigation and maritime industry
- Hazard identification and risk taxonomy in operations of ships, sports and commercial boats
- IMO Regulatory Frameworks for Risk Management: Formal Security Assessment (FSA) and ISM/AGS Code
- Risk tolerance, ALARP criteria (as low as reasonably practicable) and probability and impact matrix
- Analysis of operational uncertainty: meteorological variables, sea state, mechanical failures and human factor
- Risk Governance in Companies Shipping Companies, Sports Marinas, Shipyards and Offshore Operations Centres
- Legal responsibility, criminal/civil consequences of the insurers' negligence and role (P&I, H&M)
- ISO 31000 standard applied to the maritime sector
02
Advanced Risk Assessment and Analysis Methodologies
- Qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative methods: HAZOP, FMEA/FMECA and what-if analysis
- Bow-tie analysis (bow tie) applied to the prevention of nautical accidents and control of barriers
- Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Event Tree (ETA) in Critical Failures of Machines and Governance Systems
- Dynamic risk assessment in real time during the execution of complex manoeuvres
- Management of change (Management of Change - MOC) to operational, personnel or equipment modifications
- Contaminant dispersion modelling, fire consequences analysis and sinking simulations
- Risk audits, checklists and continuous monitoring of key risk indicators (KRI)
- HAZOP and FMEA analysis
03
Human Factors, Operational Errors and Decision Making in Crisis
- Theory of human error in nautical: Cognitive biases, attention tunnel and loss of situational awareness
- Resource management on the bridge (BRM) and in the crisis team: assertive communication, authority and work under extreme pressure
- Crisis Physiology: Impact of Panic, Fatigue, Sleep Deprivation and Acute Stress on Operational Performance
- Decision-making models in high uncertainty environments: Naturalist Decision Model (NDM) and Ooda Loop
- Leadership Protocols in Critical Situations (Command & Control): Distribution of on-board and ground workloads
- Management of the panic of crew and passengers: psychology of masses in situations of abandonment or serious emergency
- Non-Punitive Security Culture and Continuous Learning Based on the Near-Accident Report (Near-Misses)
- Crew resource management
04
Contingency plans, nautical emergency response and breakdown control
- Design and implementation of the boat/fleet contingency plan and integration with the security management system
- Tactical responses to immediate critical failures: total loss of power (blackout), government failure and boarding
- Structural breakdown control: waterway management, stability calculation on damaged ship and shoring/blocking techniques
- Complex fire fighting strategies at sea, smoke containment and extinguishing water stability control
- Response to Man to the Water (MOB), Collisions, Unplanned Dry-Dockings and Loss of Stability/Critical Escoration
- Activation of the Emergency Plan for Maritime Pollution (SOPEP/SMPEP) against hydrocarbon spills
- Usability tests, simulation of crisis scenarios and high fidelity periodicals
- Fault control plans
05
Rescue operations, external assistance and shelter ports
- Request for Assistance and Salvage: Coordination with Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centres (MRCC/RCC)
- Mayday Declaration, PAN-PAN and Tactical Use of the Global Maritime Relief and Security System (GMDSS)
- Interface with external response equipment: salvage tugs, SAR helicopters and opportunity ships
- Contractual aspects in emergency rescue: LOF contracts (Lloyd's Open Form), Scopic and No Cure Clauses - No Pay
- Risk assessment in the application and concession of ports of refuge (Places of Refuge) for endangered boats
- Abandonment of the boat: order of command, deployment of rafts/boats, survival at sea and use of beacons EPIRB/SART
- Management of the environmental impact of the crisis and prevention of secondary pollution during the rescue
- Lloyd's Open Form Rescue Contracts
06
Land crisis management, business continuity and chain of command
- Organisation of the Crisis Management Team (ERT / CMT): Roles, Crisis Rooms (War Rooms) and Logistics
- Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DRP) in nautical/maritime companies
- Interdisciplinary coordination: communication between captains, shipowners, charterers, port authorities and coast guard
- Insurance management in the midst of crisis: Notification to P&I Clubs, Fault Adjusters and Gross Breakdown Declaration (General Average)
- Repatriation Logistics, Emergency Medical Care (Medevac/TMAS) and Psychological Support for Victims and Families
- Preservation of digital and physical evidence during the crisis: VDR/Black Data, Log Books and Radio Records
- Management of organisational resilience to prolonged crises or multiple simultaneous events
- Ground Emergency Response Teams
07
Strategic crisis communication, social networks and political/reputational management
- Preparation of the crisis communication plan: official spokespersons, key messages and approval protocols
- Relationship with the mass media: press conferences, hot interviews and control of the narrative
- Communication management in social networks: monitoring of reputational impact, neutralization of fake news and misinformation
- Transparency Protocols vs. Legal protection of the company against subsequent legal claims
- Communication with stakeholders: customers, investors, governments, environmental NGOs and local communities
- Management of the corporate image in ecological disasters, serious accidents with fatalities or kidnappings/piracy
- Workshops for spokespersons in high-pressure environments (Media Training)
- Spokespersons and Media Management
08
Post-Crisis Research, Lessons Learned and Capstone Project
- Post-crisis research methodology: collection of evidence, post-incident interviews and fact reconstruction
- Application of RCA methodologies (root cause analysis) for the identification of systemic or organisational faults
- Preparation of final crisis reports for senior management, maritime authorities and security boards
- Feedback process and integration of lessons learned in the procedures manuals and contingency plans
- Evaluation of the performance of the crisis response team and adjustment of the risk simulation models
- Restoration of commercial trust and reconstruction of post-event reputational value
- Presentation of the Capstone Project
- Capstone Project: Development of a complete nautical crisis response and risk management plan for a sports fleet or marine, including the real-time simulation of a major accident and its communication/operational management
Workload
Study Time and Workload
800 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Merchant Marine Officers and Captains seeking to strengthen their skills in identifying, assessing, and mitigating specific risks in the maritime environment.Operations and Safety Managers in shipping companies requiring effective strategies for crisis management and business continuity.Consultants and Auditors in the maritime sector wishing to deepen their knowledge of international regulatio
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
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Student Reviews
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Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Implement maritime risk prevention and mitigation strategies
- 02Directing nautical emergency response operations
- 03Applying the legal and regulatory framework in the management of nautical risks and crises
- 04Assess and manage the specific risks of nautical activity
- 05Optimizing decision-making in risk and crisis situations in the nautical environment
- 06Develop effective communication skills in crisis and maritime emergency situations
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Risk Manager in Shipping Companies: Identification, analysis, and mitigation of operational and strategic risks.
02Maritime Security Consultant: Development of contingency plans and crisis management for ports and shipping companies.
03Port Security and Emergency Manager: Coordination of incident response and port security management.
04Risk Management Systems Auditor in the Maritime Sector: Verification of compliance with safety regulations and standards.
05Occupational Risk Prevention Technician in Shipping and Port Companies: Evaluation and control of sector-specific occupational risks.
06Risk Analyst in Marine Insurance Companies: Risk assessment for policy underwriting and claims management.
07Trainer in Maritime Risk and Crisis Management: Design and delivery of training courses and programs.
08Maritime Accident Investigator: Analysis of causes and proposals for safety improvements.
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Questions
Entry Requirements
Emergency situations at sea, such as navigation accidents, extreme weather events, piracy, marine pollution, mechanical failures, rescues and evacuations, as well as safety management and risk prevention in the nautical field.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
In all phases.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate Degree in Nautical Studies/Maritime Transport, Naval/Marine Engineering, Maritime Law or related qualification; or accredited professional experience in the maritime/port/insurance sector.Language proficiency:Recommended: technical English (reading and comprehension) for analysis of regulations and international case studies.Documentation:Updated CV detailing experience in risk or crisis management, copy of professional qualifications/certificates, ID/Passport, cover letter explaining interest in the diploma program.Techni
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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