Today, shipping is a modern, highly technical, professional discipline that requires a great deal of skill, knowledge and expertise from the maritime workforce. A safe, secure and clean shipping industry can only be built on effective standards of education and training. The world depends on a safe, secure and efficient shipping industry; and the shipping industry depends on an adequate supply of seafarers to operate the ships that carry the essential cargoes we all rely on.

Maritime studies at colleges or universities that offer courses in ship engineering and navigation provide students with the knowledge and skills required to become ship engineers or navigation officers on commercial ships. Ship engineers are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the ship’s engines and related systems, while navigation officers are responsible for safely navigating the ship and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.

Maritime studies programs that focus on ship engineering cover a wide range of topics, including marine engineering, marine propulsion systems, electrical and electronic systems, thermodynamics, mechanics, and materials science. Students learn about the design and operation of marine engines, fuel systems, and related equipment, as well as the maintenance and repair of these systems. They also study the principles of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, which are essential for understanding the behavior of fluids in a marine environment. Maritime studies programs that focus on navigation cover topics such as ship handling, navigation technology, celestial navigation, meteorology, and international maritime regulations. Students learn about the principles of navigation and how to use navigational equipment, such as radar and GPS systems, to safely navigate the ship. They also learn about international maritime laws and regulations, which are essential for ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards.

In addition to technical knowledge, students in maritime studies programs also learn about the regulatory and legal framework that governs commercial shipping. They study international maritime law, regulations governing ship construction and maintenance, environmental protection laws, and safety regulations. This knowledge is essential for ship engineers and navigation officers who must ensure that their ships are in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

To become a ship engineer or navigation officer on commercial ships, students must complete a rigorous training program that includes both classroom instruction and practical experience. This training is typically provided by maritime academies or through apprenticeship programs with commercial shipping companies. The training includes instruction in the use of specialized tools and equipment, as well as hands-on experience working on ships. Graduates of maritime studies programs can pursue a variety of careers in the commercial shipping industry. They may work as ship engineers, chief engineers, navigation officers, or technical managers. They may also work in shipyards, shipping companies, or maritime research institutions. The demand for ship engineers and navigation officers is expected to grow in the coming years as the global shipping industry continues to expand, making maritime studies a promising field for those interested in pursuing a career in this exciting and dynamic industry.

Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that uses liberal arts or business as the foundation for exploring humankind’s relationship with waterways and watersheds. Incorporating maritime history, sea literature, poetry, film, oceanography, cartography, culture studies, and contemporary marine policy, maritime studies covers a broader scope than traditional maritime history or seamanship. Maritime Studies “must be broad based and multidisciplinary and involve ‘almost every profession having to do with the sea.'”  Some of the institutions providing maritime studies combine a broad grounding in technical and scientific coursework with the study of courses in arts and humanities. While maritime academies frequently prepare cadets for careers in the merchant marine, maritime studies programs prepare students for a variety of careers in the civilian maritime industrial and service sectors.

The World Maritime theme for 2022 – ‘New technologies for greener shipping’ – reflects the need to support a green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future, while leaving no one behind. The theme provides an opportunity to focus on the importance of a sustainable maritime sector and the need to build back better and greener in a post-pandemic world.

This is a list of maritime colleges, universities, and institutes, grouped by geographical region and country.

Africa

Americas

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Source: MaritimEducation team & Wikipedia