Return to Overview of Three Short Courses > Course 1
Introduction to Ships and the Shipping World
Early career naval architects, engineers and policy officers typically have excellent technical knowledge and look forward to applying them when they join the workforce. However, generally not included in their education is an understanding of the wider maritime world. Without this knowledge they lack the context for their work. This introductory course is designed for such naval architects, engineers and policy officers, and the objective of which is to provide this context. It should be noted that while the course is directed at early career technical graduates, non-technical personnel could find it potentially useful as an introduction to the world of ships.
This short course provides a comprehensive introduction to the maritime world with a focus on ships. This is accomplished by summarizing the stages in the lifecycle of ships starting at the design stage through construction and finally to operations and maintenance. The regulatory environment in which these are undertaken is also described.
This course, consisting of six 3-hour modules, will be delivered through Brightspace, an online learning management system.
Each module is followed by an online quiz. After the successful completion of six quizzes (three attempts and a 70% passing grade for each quiz) and a short survey by June 12, 2026, participants will receive their certificates through the Brightspace system.
Registration fee – $600 CAD/person + HST
Registration deadline – April 24, 2026
Module 1.1 | Types of Ships and Their Functions and Features – Dr. Dan Walker – 12:00–15:30 EST, May 19
Module 1.2 | Regulatory Environment – James Bond - 12:00–15:30 EST, May 20
Module 1.3 | Shipbuilding – John Dolny – 12:00–15:30 EST, May 21
Module 1.4 | System Integration – Glenn Walters – 12:00–15:30 EST, May 22
Module 1.5 | Operations of Ships – Capt. David (Duke) Snider – 12:00–15:30 EST, May 25
Module 1.6 | Maintenance of Ships - Dr. Roger Basu – 12:00–15:30 EST, May 26
Module 1.2 Regulatory Environment
This module will provide a brief introduction to the history of marine regulations, from medieval load lines to the development of the International Marine Organization (IMO) and the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
The module will explain the current system of marine regulation, including international and national regulators and flag and port state certification inspection regimes. Materials will cover the roles of classification societies and other standards organizations, and how insurance is applied to vessels themselves and to their cargoes.
Some of the key regulatory instruments will be outlined, including the SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line and ISM Conventions. Canada’s specific approach to marine regulations will be outlined, noting how vessels outside the IMO framework are handled and noting the scope of various Acts that apply to Canadian vessels and their operations. Because of increasing interest in shipping in the Polar regions the Canada's Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations (ASSPPR) and the IMO Polar Code will be covered in depth.
Module 1.3 Shipbuilding
This module will step through the end-to-end shipbuilding process. Starting from establishing owners’ requirements and the preliminary, concept, and functional design cycles, the module will highlight the critical decisions and design elements to stabilize early in order to minimize late-stage changes. The detail production design phases will also be introduced to explain how the total ship design is broken down into producible assemblies, modules, units, and blocks that can be planned in detail for production. This will describe the detailed planning functions and demonstrate the importance of an integrated master schedule.
Each stage of ship construction will be introduced, starting from early steel procurement and steel preparation into minor, complex and unit assembly. Unit outfitting stages will be shown next, highlighting the objectives of maximizing outfitting (pipe, electrical, HVAC, etc.) efficiency at the earliest possible stages of construction. Later stages of block consolidation, paint, mega block erections, and mega block joins will also be highlighted.
Finally, this module will highlight the launch process and outline the test and trial activities which ultimately lead to commissioning and delivery to the customer. Additional topics throughout the lecture will include material specifications/requirements, welding processes, accuracy control, corrosion prevention, and anti-fouling.
Module 1.4: System Integration
This module provides an awareness of the complexities and best practices for integrating multiple onboard systems. The session will cover:
Principles and practices of system integration in modern shipbuilding, including how complex onboard systems are designed, coordinated, and integrated
Interface management, system architecture, and integration of key ship systems - such as propulsion, power generation and distribution, navigation, communication, automation, cybersecurity and digital systems, and safety systems - within the context of design and construction. An awareness of the challenges and considerations for specialty systems (e.g. scientific systems) will be provided
Testing, validation, and commissioning processes from the perspective of integrating ship systems
Considerations for in-service sustainment to include technical refresh and capability insertion
Module 1.5: Operation of Ships
This module will briefly introduce course attendees to some of the onboard and operational aspects of the maritime industry. It is intended to provide course attendees who have no onboard experience with an understanding of how shipboard life differs from life in shore-based maritime industry professions. The lecture will cover three broad subject areas: shipboard life, voyage planning and port operations.
In discussing shipboard life the lecture will outline who is onboard and what they do. The organization typically found on ships is described. Those on board are the officers and the crew. These are discussed together with the departmental organization (deck, engine and hotel/supply). Also discussed are the temporary specialists, external or temporary. This is exemplified by riders, pilots and ice navigators. Issues associated with time away from home are discussed. These include the impact on personal, social and family wellbeing, and also related fatigue issues.
The important subject of voyage planning will be discussed. This part opens with a brief overview of how voyages are planned and executed, and the associated administrative burden. Also discussed are ice operations and the differences experienced between operations in the Arctic and the Southern Ocean. The role of the IMO Polar Code and Ice Navigator training are introduced.
The final broad area of ship operations discussed is port operations. The key aspects of cargo handling are introduced including interactions with agents, cargo planning and dealing with port requirements. The importance of being aware of differences in cargo requirements for different types of trade such as passenger, bulk, liquid, breakbulk, and containers is outlined. A similar treatment is presented for specialized ships such as self-unloaders, geared ships; product, crude, chemical, gas tankers and others. Bunker operations are also discussed. Also summarized are the interactions with agencies beyond those concerned directly with ship operations, including agents, auditors, and inspectors leading to administrative overburden which contributes to fatigue.
Module 1.6 Maintenance of Ships
Ship maintenance concerns the management and engineering activity that is required to keep ships, and the systems in them, functional and safe. Maintenance is a cradle-to-grave activity and gets more intensive as the ship ages. This module opens with a discussion of the relevant general aspects by summarizing the importance of maintenance, and the business and management aspects of maintenance. The organizations relevant to this activity are introduced.
This is followed by a summary of the types of maintenance methodologies that have developed over the decades focusing on those used on ships. The hull structure and all the systems contained within are all subject to wear and tear. The process of deterioration that hull structure and other systems suffer is described and illustrative examples are provided. The main preventive measures taken to avoid deterioration during design, construction and operation are also outlined. Emphasis is given to the hull structure as the part of the ship that most maintenance resources are applied to during the lifetime of the vessel. Repair measures necessary to maintain strength are introduced.
Surveys are an important systematic task undertaken to determine the state of the vessel at a given time; this is summarized. The important subject of human factors is briefly surveyed. The module concludes with a discussion of trends that are likely to impact the way ships are maintained. Some of the future challenges are also noted.