– specialization programme programme in Nautical Science
Nautical Science represents a broad area that combines multidisplinaryscience and practical issues. Primarily it is concernedwith the safe navigation and safe handling and operation of ships,including the protection of life and the environment. Other keyelements of this science is shipboard administration and thehandling, loading and care of cargoes. The fundamental aim ofnautical activities can thus be said to be to navigate a vessel fromone place to another, safely and efficiently, without causing anyaccidents.
The MSc study in Marine Technology, specialization programme in NauticalScience, provides an advanced educationtailored to provide students with the basicskills and knowledge required to copewith the technological and operationalchallenges at sea or in the internationalmaritime industries. The programme isdesigned for students with a BSc-degreein maritime/marine transport, nautical/naval science, marine navigation or theequivalent. An additional entrance qualificationrequirement is relevant experienceat sea, preferably of 12 months ormore. The study is appropriate for studentswho have an analytical mind (a minimumof 21 ECTS in mathematics is requiered)and who are motivated by andinterested in relating theoretical knowledgeand techniques to practical situations.The MSc degree aims to provide thegraduates with the educational platformrequired to obtain interesting and challengingopportunities in international employmentand also qualifies for furtherPhD-studies in related areas.
Norway has a great maritime history andlong traditions as a nation of sea farersand explorers. Norwegian shipping andoffshore companies and landbased maritimebusinesses are among the frontrunnersin the maritime world. Against these maritimetraditions and anticipated futuretechnological developments, a technology-based nautical science programme wasestablished at the Department of Marine Technology in 1980 in order to targetstudents from Norwegian maritime Collegesand the Naval Academy.The international MSc study programmeinNautical Science at the NorwegianUniversity of Science and Technology(NTNU), is a further development andimprovement of this previous nauticalscience programme.
Objectives
The MSc programme in NauticalScience is designed to developknowledge and skills in the nauticalfield at a recognised internationallevel. It takes advantage of NTNU’scutting edge expertise in the field ofmarine technology. The programmeconcentrates on formulating, analysing and solving nautical scienceproblems related to the planning,testing and performing of complexmarine operations. Special emphasisis on the nautical safety aspects ofmarine operations and application ofelectronic navigating systems andtechnologies. A core element in theteaching programme is to utilizeapproximations and simplifiedmethods for critical assessment ofsafe navigation at sea and evaluationof the operational efficiency of nauticaloperations.
The programme is designed to contributeto the development of analyticalskills, a holistic view and a sense ofresponsibility and interest in the subject.Graduates from the programmeshould be able to utilize these skills todevelop and operate new and improvedtechnology to further enhance navigational safety and operationalefficiency.
Specific skills and knowledge include:
The ability to work with developersand users of advanced maritime IT systems
Determining the accuracy oftrack keeping using different combinations of navigation tools
Knowing how marine operationsare executed and how they are influenced by environmental conditions (waves, wind, current,restrictions of operationalareas)
Participating in the developmentof maritime control andguidance systems, developing and applying technology andmethods related to maritimeoperations
Structure - Nautical Science Specialization
Description of the Programme
The MSc programme in NauticalScience has a duration of four semesterscovering a total of nine compulsoryand two elective subjects in additionto a project and the master thesis.
During the first semester (autumn)students are required to take compulsorysubject in basic navigation andmarine hydrodynamics in addition toadvanced subjects in mathematicsand sea loads on marine vehicles in order to provide a solid basis ofknowledge for their specializationand elective subjects in the followingsemesters.
In the second semester (spring), studentstake three compulsory subjectson navigation systems, nauticalscience and a basic course in marinedynamics. One additional electivesubject is mandatory. (The choice ofelectives depends on the specializationin the third semester. Examplesare: marine control systems, marineoperations, oceanography or navalhydrodynamics).
The third semester (autumn) offersone elective specialization subject inaddition to a compulsory course inadvanced nautical science a specialisationsubject which allows the studentto add in-depth knowledge relatedto the thesis. The project work iscompulsory.
The last semester (spring) is dedicatedto the MSc thesis. Successful completion of all subjects+ project and Master thesis, result inan MSc degree in Marine Technology,Nautical Science, from the NorwegianUniversity of Science andTechnology (NTNU).
