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CODE 101129
ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR ING-IND/02
LANGUAGE English
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

The teaching unit of Ship Propulsion aims to cover the topics inherent to the engineering of ship propulsion systems, their distribution on board and system performance. During the lectures, the basic principles inherent to the ship's resistance to motion, the thrusters that provide the propulsive thrust, the engines that deliver the power, and the fuels used in ship engines will be illustrated.

Teaching involves both curricula, Deck Officer and Engineer and Electro-Technical Officer. For the curriculum engineer and electro-technical officier the teaching is 9 credits (90 lecture hours), while for the curriculum deck officier the teaching is 6 credits (60 lecture hours).

For the engineer and electro-technical officer curriculum, the teaching unit provides the theoretical background and skills for the 4 Functions included in Table A-III/1, Table A-III/2, Table A-III/6, and Table A-VIII/2 of the STCW Convention. For the Deck Officer curriculum, the teaching unit provides the theoretical background and skills for the 3 Functions included in Table A-II/1 and Table A-II/2 of the STCW Convention.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit aims at introducing the basics of ship propulsion systems. Key topics are ship resistance, engines, propulsion plants and auxiliaries, energy efficiency. Knowledge regarding management and operation of the propulsion plant is provided. At the end students will be able to plan and schedule operations, evaluate propulsive characteristics and assess propulsive performance.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit aims to introduce the basics of propulsion plant management for the most common types of ships, covering propulsion plant layout, performance, and crew management. The teaching thus aims to provide naval propulsion principles to engineers, seagoing crew and ship managers.

Upon completion of the teaching, students will be able to:

  • describe the operating principles, purposes and main characteristics of ship propulsion systems, their maintenance, and the safe manning and safe working operations topics;
  • evaluate operational conditions of ship propulsion systems;
  • use appropriate technical language to communicate clearly and effectively with both specialist and non-specialist interlocutors;
  • interpret and express themselves correctly by means of graphs, diagrams and technical drawings;
  • process and evaluate information both through group work and individually (critical thinking).

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching will include lectures, exercises, small group activities in class with debriefing and discussion, webinars, guided tours (if possible), and use of the simulator.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Teaching unit general contents:

  • Ship propulsion overview
  • Ship Resistance
  • Ship Propellers
  • Required power trend
  • Engine-Propeller matching
  • Diesel-Engine characteristics; gas and steam turbines; and boilers
  • Marine Fuels
  • Regulations: MARPOL and Classification Societies

For both curriculum compliance with STCW can be identyfied by means of:

  • Engineer and Electro-Technical Officers: compentences for Functions 1,2,3,4 of Tables A-III/1, A-III/2; Functions 1,2,3 Table A-III/6;
    • Table A-III/1: Basic construction and operation principles of machinery systems, including: marine diesel engine; marine steam turbine; marine gas turbine; marine boiler; shafting installations, including propeller
    • Table  A_III/2: Propulsive characteristics of diesel engines, steam and gas turbines, physical and chemical properties of fuels and lubricants, marine engineering practice and safe working practice; design features and operative mechanism of marine diesel engine and associated auxiliaries; design features and operative mechanism of marine steam turbine and associated auxiliaries; design features and operative mechanism of marine gas turbine and associated auxiliaries; design features and operative mechanism of marine steam boiler and associated auxiliaries, propulsive characteristics of diesel engines, steam and gas turbines, including speed, output and fuel consumption.
    • Table A-III/6 ETO: Basic understanding of the operation of mechanical engineering systems, including: .1 prime movers, main propulsion plant; Preparation of control systems of propulsion and auxiliary machinery for operation.
  • Deck Officier: competenced for Functions 1,2,3 in Table A-II/1 and A-II/2
    • Table A-II/1: Ship manoeuvring and handling; Prevention of pollution of the marine environment and anti-pollution procedures
    • Table A-II/2: Manoeuvring and handling a ship in all conditions; Operating principles of marine power plants; Ships’ auxiliary machinery; General knowledge of marine engineering terms.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lecture notes provided on Aulaweb.

MARINE ENGINEERING, PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY OF NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS, 1992

Reeds Vol 3: Applied Heat for Marine Engineers

Reeds Vol 4: Naval Architecture for Marine Engineers

Reeds Vol 8: General Engineering Knowledge for Marine Engineers

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test, an oral test and a discussion of the exercises. Access to the oral exam is only after passing the written exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam will assess the ability to solve problems, while the oral exam will evaluate the understanding of theoretical concepts, reasoning skills, use of specialized vocabulary, and awareness of the limitations of the applied methodologies.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information not included in the course description, contact the teachers.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

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