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  1. Homepage
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  3. International Degree Programme in Ship Management – Nautical Sciences B.Sc.
[Translate to English:]
© Hochschule Bremen - Ana Rodríguez

School of Nature and Engineering

International Degree Programme in Ship Management – Nautical Sciences B.Sc.

Overview

Degree Bachelor of Science, STCW Certificate of Competency for Nautical Watch Officers
Start of study Winter semester, Summer semester
Application period Winter semester 01 June until 15 July
Application period Summer semester 15 December until 15 January
Standard period of study 8 semesters
Credits 240
Accredited

Yes: Newly accredited under laws governing the profession and university law in 2020

Admission restricted No
Admission requirements
  • Higher education entrance qualification
  • English language level B2 (TOEFL/IELTS)
Language of instruction English
Faculty/institution School of Nature and Engineering
Integrated stay abroad Yes

You want to travel the globe on different ships and ship types and you enjoy working with people from different cultures? Then come on board!

In the international degree programme in Ship Management - Nautical Sciences B.Sc., you will learn everything to do with seafaring, from navigation and manoeuvring to ship technology, business administration and maritime law.

Career prospects

As a graduate of the international programme in Ship Management - Nautical Sciences B.Sc., you will be a qualified specialist in many ways!

The primary initial goal is to be able to take over duties as officer of the watch on board a ship, in which capacity you will be responsible for navigational supervision and other tasks such as supervising loading and discharging operations. After two to three years of professional experience as a watch officer, you can apply for the certificate of competency as a 1st officer – and in a further 12 months, for a captain’s certificate.

Maritime shipping is a dynamic market full of challenging opportunities for seafaring careers. In the next few years, there will also be a growing need for sea pilots, who do not have to stay on board for such long periods.

As a graduate of the degree programme, you will also be qualified for the onshore maritime labour market. Your nautical knowledge is in demand in many areas, including shipping, the energy industry, maritime software, port logistics, shipping administration as well as maritime training and education.

Overall, the career prospects can be described as very good. Graduates of the degree programme work in the following occupational fields:

  • Commercial shipping in Germany
  • Pilotage
  • International commercial shipping
  • QSHE management
  • Crewing
  • Ship & fleet management
  • Shipping-related professions (auditing, surveying, vetting inspection, ...)
  • Offshore wind, gas and oil operations (nautical inspector, traffic control, project manager, QSHE management, ...)
  • Port logistics (cargo surveyor, ship/cargo planning, transport management, ...)
  • Shipping-related subcontracting (product management, sales, ...)
  • Software industry (product managers, application consultants and developers, ...)
  • Maritime training and education (teachers, lecturers in further education, trainers, ...)
  • Public sector (shipping authorities, water police, federal police, ...)

Upcoming events

Programme structure

Although the aim of the programme is to provide a generalist and multifaceted training in the field, you will still be able to choose specialisations, such as:

  • Navigation and meteorology
  • Watchkeeping, marine communication and manoeuvring
  • Ship technology, ship safety, fleet management
  • Cargo technology (tankers, dry cargo, dangerous goods)
  • Maritime law and personnel management

In addition, there are several modules such as health on board, marine radio and compulsory elective subjects in which you can further deepen your knowledge in maritime management or on specific cargo or ship-related focal points.

  • Nautical Mathematics

    • Algebra: equations
    • Geometry: plane geometry analytical geometry
    • Spherical geometry: spherical triangles
    • Sailings
      • Loxodrome sailing (mean latitude, Mercator sailing, day’s work)
      • Orthodrome sailing (great circle, composite sailing)
    • Vector calculations and coordinate systems
      • Wind and current vectors
      • Drift plotting (Stromdreiecke)
    • Chart projections

    Celestial Navigation

    • Celestial coordinate system, horizon coordinate system
    • Time and time conversion
    • Sextant and its use
    • Celestial position lines
    • Sight reduction methods and tools, celestial position fixes
    • Celestial compass error check
    • Tide and astronomical fundamentals
  • Maritime English (SMCP):

     

    • The Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP)
    • External communication: ship – ship, ship – shore (VTS), emergencies
    • On board communication: safety related, passenger care, safety equipment

     

    Marine Radio Communication:

    • International regulatory framework for radio communication
    • German regulations and radio operator certificates
    • Nautical radio publications as IAMSAR, ITU-Manual and Lists, ALRS, ISB
    • Identification of radio stations (ships, earth, coastal)
    • Radio traffic (incl. public, private, coastal stations, RCC, ….)
    • Ship reporting systems, navigational warnings, Navtex, LRIT, SSAS and similar systems
    • Medical service system and operations
    • Emergency and SAR systems and operations (e.g. abandoning ship, fire on board, …)
    • Control of SAR operations, tasks as OSC On-Scene-Coordinator
    • Operations of radio communication and equipment
    • Frequencies, types of operation, ….
    • DSC and Radiotelex systems and equipment
    • Satellite systems, traffic charges
    • EPIRB, SART
    • False distress alerts and handling
    • International Code of Signals
    • Maintenance and avoiding hazards of the radio installations
    • Measures to be taken in case of partly or full break down of radio installations
  • Blue Sciences (for all BS students)

    • Introduction to the concept of Blue Sciences
    • Overview of the contents and requirements of the main studies
    • Learning goals and study approaches and how to achieve them
    • Introduction to the minor subjects
    • Explore the various professional and technical areas and opportunities of the study programs
    • Introduction to scientific work, library research and development of presentation and research skills
    • Excursions or study visits
    • German language requirements

     

    Project “Seamanship” (specific for students in Nautical Sciences):

    • Excursion „Seamanship“
    • Introduction into ship operations (seamanship terms, parts of the ship, living on board)
    • Watch duties (steering, outlook, commands, weather observations)
    • Navigation (navigational aids, sea charts and publications, courses)
    • Seamanship (lines and wires, knots, splices, mooring operations, ship maintenance)
    • Safety (safety equipment, drills, safe working)
    • Teamwork (leadership, communication, Standard Marine Communication Phrases - SMCP English)
    • Introduction to internships on merchant vessels (requirements, TRB NOA, cadets’ tasks, STCW requirements)
    • TRB NOA content on demand (e.g. working with sextants, ship manoeuvres)
  • Mechanics

    • Dynamics
      • Concept of energy (kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of energy)
      • Forces (Principle of Transmissibility, Addition and equivalent system of forces, Newton’s laws, Weight and Normal Force, Friction)
      • Kinematics (Equation of motion, Inertia & moment of inertia)
      • Oscillations (harmonic oscillation, pendulum, damping and resonance)
      • Mechanical vibrations
    • Statics
      • Center of Gravity
      • Static of rigid bodies (External forces: forces and torque in beams and cables, supports, equilibrium of forces, free-body-diagram, reactions at supports and connections; internal forces: Normal and shear force, bending moments)
      • Stability (strength of materials, section modulus, tension, bendline, tilting stability)
    • Basics and mathematics
      • System of units and SI prefixes
      • Fractional arithmetic
      • Trigonometry
      • Equation conversion and solving
      • Vector calculation
      • Differential and integral calculus

    Ship Design

    • Basic knowledge of ship building and ship components, terms of the different parts of a ship
    • Proficiency in reading of drawings and plans
    • Ship types
    • Maintenance and repair
    • Classification Society and Flag State
    • Corrosion (chemical process, protection, corrosion control and detection)
    • Supervising of shipbuilding and repair
  • Basics in Economic theory

    • Sea Transport and the Global Economy
    • The Organization of the Shipping Market
    • Shipping Market Cycles
    • Supply, Demand and Freight Rates
    • The four shipping markets
    • The transport of general cargoes
      • Project cargo shipping
      • Container shipping
  • Compasses

    • ship and earth magnetism
    • Magnetic-compass – principles, use, limitations, compensation
    • Gyro-compass – principles, use, limitations
    • Deviation control, compass deviation logbook

    Steering control systems

    • principles, course and track control, performance limits and adjustment
    • operational procedures, change-over from manual to automatic control

    Echosounders

    • principles, operations, performance, and limitations

    Log systems

    • principles, operations, performance, and limitations

    Satellite positioning systems (GPS)

    • systems, principles, performance, and limitations
    • operations, reliability

    Radar

    • theory of electromagnetic (radar) waves
    • systems, operations, settings, control of performance
    • operation, interpretation of echo’s

    ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System)

    • systems, principles

    Integrated Navigation Systems

    • systems, integrity

    Integrated Bridge Systems

    • networks, integration of all systems
    • VDR (Voyage Data Recorder), navigation lights, communication and other systems
    • alarm systems, BNWAS (Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System), SSAS (Ship Security Alert System)

    Computer networks

    • hardware, software
    • administration tasks
    • maintenance, data securing, updates
    • cyber security

    Data management

    • data bases
    • data analysing

    Human-Machine-Interaction

    • awareness, resilience, hazards
    • ergonomics, operations
  • Hydrodynamics

    • Hydrodynamic fundamentals (as Bernoulli equation, laminar and turbulent flow, law of similarity, continuity equation)
    • Hydrodynamic effects when manoeuvring a ship
    • Squat, ship-ship interactions

    Manoeuvring Basics

    • Propulsion systems (types, principles, limitations), as for fixed and pitch propeller, azimuth propulsion (POD), Voith systems
    • Propulsion systems on ship types, as for cargo ships, passenger ships, offshore supply vessels and tugs
    • Operation of propulsion systems (controls, procedures)
    • Assistance by DP (dynamic positioning) systems
    • Manoeuvring equipment (anchors, winches, bollards, lines)
    • Trial manoeuvres and manoeuvring table
    • Economic sailing, EEDI/EEOI (Energy Efficiency Design Index / Energy Efficiency Operating Indicator), SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan)

    Manoeuvres in standard situations (considering speed, wind and current)

    • Encounter and overtaking
    • Shallow, narrow and restricted waters
    • Driving of turns, radius constant turning
    • Anchoring, embarkation of pilot
    • Berthing and unberthing, mooring, use of tugs
    • Docking

    Abnormal and emergency situations

    • Waves, swell and wind sea (periods, resonance)
    • Heavy weather manoeuvres, parametric rolling
    • Search and Rescue (IAMSAR)
    • Emergency manoeuvres (person over board, lost of propulsion or steering gear, rescue boat launching)
    • Manoeuvres in ice
  • Tanker Business (20 contact hours)

    • Tanker markets and logistic chain
    • Market specific requirements
    • Economical aspects
    • International organizations
    • Human resources and their requirements
    • Audits and Vetting inspection

     

    Cargo Operations (40 contact hours)

    • Tanker types: Oil, Chemical and Liquified Gas
    • Cargo properties: Oil, Chemical and Liquified Gas
    • Tanker design
    • Equipment, instruments and systems for carriage, loading and unloading
    • Safe operation and procedures
    • Crew responsibilities
    • Maintenance requirements
    • Tanker Health, Safety, Security and Environment
    • Environmental protection
    • Emergency Management
    • Legal international and national requirements concerning ship stability, trim, draught
    • Ship Theory fundamentals, hydrostatics of a ship (buoyancy, center of gravity, draught and displacement)
    • Transverse stability (initial stability, righting and heeling levers, angle of loll, free surfaces)
    • Longitudinal stability (trim, draught)
    • Effects on stability (cargo, crane operations, wind, ice, turns)
    • Dynamic stability, effects in seaway
    • Damage stability
    • Strength (fundamentals, local and longitudinal strength, torsion, calculation methods)
    • Management of stability (assessing stability, stability experiments, pre-calculation, draught survey)
  • International shipping legislation and regulations

    • International Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
    • SOLAS with application of ISM and ISPS Code
    • MLC and health regulations
    • MARPOL and its annexes
    • STCW
    • Required ship documents and certificates
    • Flag state and port state requirements (incl. Port State Control)
    • National Single Window

    Nationaler Rechtsrahmen / Deutsches Seeschifffahrtsrecht

    • Rechtssystem der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
    • Schiffsbesetzung
    • Strafrecht und Ordnungswidrigkeiten
    • Zivilrechtliche Vorschriften mit Bezügen zum Seerecht
    • Öffentlich-rechtliche Vorschriften mit Bezügen zum Seerecht

    Management Systems, Standards in Shipping

    • Quality Management (ISO)
    • Environmental and Energy Management (ISO)
    • Safety Management (ISM, ISPS)
  • The content is according to the ‘On-Board Training Record Book for Navigational Officer’s Assistants (TRB NOA)’:

    • Duties of the watch-keeping officer during bridge operations
    • Cargo handling duties of watch-keeping officer
    • Duties of watch-keeping officer on manoeuvring stations
    • Administrative duties of the watchkeeping officer

    Details are specified in the TRB NOA of BSH
     

  • Basics

    • Sea charts
      • Sea charts, projections, scales,
      • Chart datum, geographic coordinates
      • Correction of sea charts and publications
      • Chart work (ECDIS and paper charts)
    • Courses
      • Courses, course conversion including
      • Effects by wind, currents and tidal streams
      • Compass error checks
    • Navigational aids and symbols
      • Navigational aids and lights, incl. lighthouses, beacons and buoys
      • Water levels and depth
      • Sea chart symbols
    • Tide planning
      • Tidal values and tidal current
      • Tide tables, tide atlas, tide calculation
    • Passage Planning
      • Appraisal, Planning, Monitoring and Executing
      • Under keel clearance, safety contour and safety depth
      • Nautical publications, navigational warnings, notices to mariners
      • Meteorological navigation, weather routing, considering ice, restricted visibility

    Navigation

    • Ocean Navigation
      • Electronic position fixes
      • Celestial position fixes
      • Accuracy of position fixes on oceans
    • Coastal Navigation
      • Position fixing by bearings
      • Virtual navaids
      • Accuracy of position fixes in coastal navigation
    • Pilotage, restricted waters
      • Visual and Blind Pilotage
      • Safety and clearing lines
      • Parallel Indexing
      • Turning radius, abort points, berthing and anchoring
  • International Regulations

    • International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
    • Regulations in STCW-Code about Watchkeeping
    • Collision avoidance – radar plotting
    • Incident and Accident Investigation

    National Regulations / Deutsches Allgemeines Seeverkehrsrecht

    • Deutsche Seeschifffahrtsstraßen-Ordnung
    • Anlaufbedingungs-Verordnung
    • Seesicherheits-Untersuchungs-Gesetz

    Watchkeeping

    • Keeping a safe navigational watch
    • Log Book
    • Navigation in VTS areas
    • International Code of Signals
    • Fundamentals concerning chemical hazards, chemicals on board.
    • Hazard classes and related provisions.
    • International regulations as
      • SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), especially SOLAS II-2 Regel 19 and SOLAS Chapter VII.
      • IMDG-Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code).
      • IMSBC-Code (International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code).
      • CSC (Convention for Safe Containers).
    • Handling, stowage and segregation of dangerous cargoes.
    • Documentation
    • National laws, regulations and guidelines on classification, packing, documentation.
      • Gefahrgutverordnung See (GGV See)
    • Procedures and communication in operations with dangerous cargo.
    • Emergency response (MFAG, EmS)
  • Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic fundamentals / laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic cycle processes, refrigeration circuit, heat transfer

    Electrotechnics: Basics of direct and alternating current, measurement of electrical quantities, calculation of linear direct current networks, electric field, electrical machines and devices

    Work machines: Pumps, compressors, hydraulic motors

    Marine Combustion engines: Slow, medium and high speed engines, 2 and 4-stroke, for fuels as Diesel, HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil), LNG (Liquid Natural Gas), Methanol

    Propulsion Systems: Shaftline, gearbox, propeller, rudderpropellers, azimuth thruster, Voith Schneider propeller, maneuvering equipment (stearing gear, transverse thrust systems)

    Auxiliary machinery: Cooling water systems, fuel oil systems, lubrication oil systems, fire-fighting and bilge systems, ballastsystems, potable water systems, heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC), sanitary black and grey water systems

    Electrical systems: Power generation, power distribution, fuel cells, battery systems

    • Maritime trade law concerning Master’s obligations regarding seaworthiness and preparedness for loading, carriers liability, conservation of evidence, sea protest;
    • Sea trade law regarding overseas trade contracts as contract of carriage (German Commercial Code,) and conventions (Hague-, Visby-, Hamburg-Rules) and charter contracts (voyage, time, bareboat charter);
    • Multimodal transport law regime, contracts for storage, cargo handling and special transports;
    • Insurance business (P&I, hull & machinery), particular and general average, salvage and assistance; Legal situation of the Master according to trade law (HGB etc.) and as representative of the ship owner;
    • International and German legislation and regulations;
    • Importance of legal situation/contracts for main obligations (claims for – timely performance and for payment of freight, demurrage/detention and other costs aspects).
  • Medical Care:

    • Anatomy of the human body
    • Frequently occurring diseases and their treatment
    • Tropical diseases and their treatment
    • General knowledge about nursing and patient care
    • Pharmacologic knowledge about the medicine in the medical chest
    • Advanced knowledge in medical first-aid and the competence to practice it (as use of spine board, emergency kits, surgery techniques, dressing)
    • Emergency medical aid and ability for reanimation
    • Lifesaving in distress at sea
    • Competence to use telemedical support including the ability to transfer the advice into effective actions
    • Practical medical course to gain medical competence specific for practice on board (e.g. injections, surgical dressing)

    Human Behaviour:

    • Basics and terms of universal psychology (psychologic processes and its organic basics, disposition and environment, process of psychic functions, awareness, memory and learning, thinking and intelligence, psychic forces)
    • Basics and terms of occupational and organisational psychology
    • Basics and terms of the work sociology
    • Basics and terms of shipping-sociology (social system ‘ship’, social conflicts, intra-role conflict, social situation of seafarer, group structures, group dynamics)
    • Intercultural systems
  • RADAR / ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) (40h lecture and exercises)

    • Radar principles, functionalities, settings and limitations
    • Critical echo identification (courses, speed, time and distance of closest approach)
    • Parallel indexing
    • Plotting techniques and relative- and true-motion concepts
    • ARPA fundamentals, functionalities and limitations
    • Radar image analysis
    • AIS integration
    • Radar overlay
    • ARPA and decision making
    • Case studies and practical use to avoid collisions in simulator

    ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) (40h lecture and exercises)

    • Regulatory requirements, backup systems
    • ECDIS principles, functionalities, settings and limitations
    • ENC (charts) types and modes of presentation
    • Installation and updating, chart ordering and handling
    • Sensors and integrity
    • Planning and monitoring with ECDIS
    • Data accuracy, warnings, alerts, cautions
    • Cases studies and practical use in setting-up, planning and monitoring in simulator
    • Cargo transportation technologies (ship types, cargoes, holds and hatch covers, maintenance).
    • Cargo operations (loading and discharging processes, legal and organisational framework of operations, claim handling).
    • Cargo handling (lifting appliances, rigging, operational safety).
    • Stowage planning (cargo information, space calculation, stowage rules, stowage plans, work schedules).
    • Ship’s stability and strength (stability in cargo operations, trimming, ballasting, limit assessments).
    • Cargo securing (behaviour of cargo, principles of securing, securing devices and material properties, securing arrangement assessment, cargo securing manual)
    • Ventilation of cargo holds
    • Specific cargo requirements (container, heavy lift, Ro/Ro, bulk incl. grain, timber deck cargo, refrigerated cargo)
  • Data processing: Sensor Technology, Coding and number systems, Logical operations and Boolean algebra

    Automation Technology: Open and closed-loop control, Contactors and relay technology, Processing of analog and binary sensor signals (e.g. PLC), State and block diagrams, Control circuit / PID controller

    Automation systems: Safety Systems, Propulsion Control Systems, Alarm Systems, Monitoring and Control Systems, Power Management Systems

    Data Management: Data Governance, Data Lifecycle Management, Big Data Management, Data Reliability, Data Storage, Fall-back Systems

    Cyber Security
     

  • Maritime Labour Law

    • International regulations as STCW and MLC (Maritime Labour Convention)
    • Contracts and labour agreements
    • Social insurances
    • Work Time regulations
    • Occupational health regulations, ISO standards, training and education on board

    Nationaler Rechtsrahmen / Deutsches Seeschifffahrtsrecht

    • Seearbeitsgesetz und Begleitvorschriften einschließlich Arbeitsschutzrecht
    • Betriebsverfassungsrecht
    • Sozialrecht
    • Seeleute-Befähigungsverordnung, Ausbildung von Seeleuten, Bescheinigungen für Seeleute
    • Schiffsbesetzungsverordnung

    HR Management

    • Leadership and managing of people in shipping
    • Communication
    • Organizational behaviour and opportunity
    • Cultural behaviours
    • Employee appraisal and disciplinary actions
  • The content is according to the ‘On-Board Training Record Book for Navigational Officer’s Assistants’ (TRB NOA):

    • Duties of the watch-keeping officer during bridge operations
    • Cargo handling duties of watch-keeping officer
    • Duties of watch-keeping officer on manoeuvring stations
    • Administrative duties of the watchkeeping officer

    Details are specified in the TRB NOA of BSH
     

    • Basics in physics of the atmosphere (thermodynamics, temperature, pressure, humidity)
    • Weather observations and meteorological shipborne instruments (functionality, use, interpretation of data)
    • Weather data reporting systems and services
    • Weather forecasts (numerical and synoptically)
    • Basics in oceanography (sea currents, sea atmosphere oscillations, ice, modes etc.)
    • Weather development (pressure systems, movement, warm-cold-air circulation, thunderstorms)
    • Temperate latitudes weather (pressure systems, front systems)
    • Tropical weather
    • Weather in polar regions
    • Weather routing, route related weather forecast
    • Tropical cyclone systems
    • Evasion strategies for tropical storms
  • Bridge Familiarization

    • Familiarization with bridge equipment
    • Use of radar and ECDIS familiarization
    • Settings of equipment and integrity of sensors
    • Navigation and manoeuvring data
    • Bridge procedures (standards and exceptional as abnormal or emergency situations
    • Bridge tools as logbook and check lists

    Passage Planning, Execution and Monitoring

    • Passage plan
    • Case studies: navigation in open waters and TSS, pilotage, restricted waters (in simulator)

     

    Ship Handling

    • Case studies: propulsion types
    • Case studies: ship-ship-interaction, squat, bank effect
    • Case studies: anchoring, berthing and unberthing under different conditions (wind, current)
       
  • The focus of Elective I are specific aspects of shipping markets and technologies. The objectives of the offered modules are contemporary issues of maritime markets and technological developments. The content of the modules is documented in the specific module descriptions.

    The specific electives are offered in the study year on student’s demand. General topics are:
     

  • Safety Management

    • IMO and flagstate regulations
    • Legislation and regulations (SOLAS and Codes, IAMSAR)
    • Human Element in emergencies
    • Emergency preparedness (ashore, on board, trainings & drills, risk management)
    • Damage to ship (regulations, physical basics and technologies, emergency response)
    • Fire (regulations, fire theory and fire extinguishing, fire-fighting equipment, emergency response)
    • Distress (regulations, life-saving equipment, emergency response)
    • Search and Rescue
    • Personnel casualties (regulations, accident prevention, survival at sea, emergency response)
    • Cargo & pollution (regulations, emergency response)

    Nationaler Rechtsrahmen / Deutsches Seeschifffahrtsrecht (included in Safety Management)

    • Seeaufgabengesetz
    • Schiffssicherheitsgesetz, -verordnung
    • Aufgaben und Struktur der Schifffahrtsverwaltung
    • Unfallverhütungsvorschriften, Handbuch See

    Security Management / Ship Security Officer

    • ISPS Code
    • Implementation and maintaining a Ship Security Plan
    • Assessment of security risks, threat and vulnerability
    • Implementation, maintaining and inspection of appropriate security measures
    • Operating, testing and calibrating of security equipment
    • Encouraging security awareness and vigilance
  • Technical Ship Management

    • Maintenance and repair (asset strategy, maintenance systems, outsourcing strategy, spare parts strategy, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis FMEA)
    • Inspection and audits (newbuilding, port state control, classification society)
    • Docking requirements and preparation for shipyard

    Fleet and Ship Performance

    • Ship and fleet performance control systems (condition monitoring, operational performance, real time fleet performance management, retro-fitting and conversions)
    • Energy Efficiency (EEDI Energy Efficiency Design Index), EEOI (Energy Efficiency Operating Indicator), SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency ManagementPlan))
    • Shipping KPI-Systems (performance indicators (PI, KPI, SPI), BIMCO-indicators)
  • Navigation
    Tasks of an officer and a master (operational and management level) to navigate a seagoing ship.

    Cargo Operations & Ship’s Stability
    Tasks of an officer and a master (operational and management level)

    • regarding cargo operations and cargo care.
    • to maintain ship’s stability.

    Ship Operations
    Tasks of an officer and a master (operational and management level)

    • regarding leadership and management of the crew.
    • concerning environmental protection.
    • regarding German legal affairs.

    STCW Competencies (only for alternative assessment)

    • discussing specific questions of the above listed syllabus in the fields of STCW applications.
  • Bridge Resource Management

    • Bridge team organisation, manning levels, risk assessment
    • Procedures and checklists
    • Communication (internal and external)
    • Teamwork and leadership, briefings
    • Situational awareness and decision making
    • Workload management
    • Exercises: BRM case studies

    Watchkeeping and Ship Handling

    • Bridge preparation
    • Navigation by using all means of navigation
    • Manoeuvring in different conditions (area, wind, current)
    • Exercises: case studies concerning COLREG and position fixing
    • Exercises: case studies concerning manoeuvres

    Emergency Response

    • Emergency preparedness and response
    • Emergency procedures
    • Emergency communication (GMDSS)
    • Exercises: case studies concerning emergency situations
  • The focus of Elective 2 are specific aspects of shipping markets and managerial challenges. The objectives of the offered modules are contemporary issues of maritime markets and management related challenges and requirements. The content of the modules is documented in the specific module descriptions.

    The specific electives are offered in the study year on student’s demand. General topics are:

    Port Management

    • Port Design and Equipment
    • Port Operations

    Shipping Management & Organization

    • Management Systems in Shipping (Quality and Safety Management)
    • Management Systems in Shipping (Environmental and Energy Management Systems)

    Specific Topics in Shipping

    • Actual topics in shipping
    • Actual topics in shipping

    Digitalization

    • Actual topics concerning digitalization, IT and internet use
    • Actual topics concerning digitalization, IT and internet use
       
    • Determine the research task or question
    • Identify and analyze literature
    • Plan and determine the frame of content and time (exposé and draft of Table of Content)
    • Determine methods of research
    • Work on scientific development of answers
    • Analyze and discuss data
    • Structure, develop and write the thesis
    • Defense of the thesis
  • Module catalogue ISMN (PDF, 2 MB, File does not meet accessibility standards)

Examination regulations (German)

  • BPO ISSM 2019 (PDF, 270 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISMN 2021-2023 (PDF, 792 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • BPO ISMN AeO 2024 (PDF, 583 KB, File does not meet accessibility standards)
  • General examination regulations for bachelor degree programmes

Practice orientation

Projects and simulators

In the first semester, you will carry out an applied seamanship project (12 days) on the Sail Training Ship ‘Alexander von Humboldt 2’. You will also be introduced to the subject area of Blue Sciences, together with students from the ‘Shipping & Chartering’ programme and ‘Shipbuilding & Marine Technology’.

Some of the modules you take involve sophisticated simulators:

  • ARPA [5 days - Radar Simulator]
  • ECDIS [5 days - ECDIS simulator]
  • Ship Handling/Watchkeeping [7 days - Ship Handling Simulator]
  • Safety Management [2 days - Ship Handling Simulator]
  • Bridge Resource Management [6 days - Ship Handling Simulator]

Other such facilities include the Liquid Cargo Simulator and the Ship Engine Simulator.

Time spent at sea

To obtain a nautical certificate of competency, you must provide evidence of having been on board ship for a total of 12-months. During this hands-on training period you can gain valuable insight into life and work on board. At the beginning of this seafaring experience, the focus is on familiarising yourself with the activities and procedures on board. You then progressively apply and deepen the theoretical knowledge gained during your studies of on-board practice.

The time at sea can be spent:

  • as a trainee (status on board: student) or
  • training to become an NOA (nautical officer's assistant) or
  • a ship's mechanic.

Within the degree programme, the 3rd and 6th semesters are earmarked for seafaring experience, in which 6 months must be spent on-board ship in each case. However, there are various other options. The programme is structured very flexibly so that individual plans can be implemented.

For instance, the entire 12 months of compulsory sailing time can also be completed before the start of the degree programme (e.g. as part of training to be a ship's mechanic or NOA). The semester that is then freed-up can be put to good use for further specialisation, preparation of the Bachelor's thesis, gaining experience with pilots or onshore companies or even additional sailing time, in which case the study programme is extended by about 3 months.

You can discuss how to optimally schedule the programme to fit your personal plans with the programme’s placement appointee. There are plenty of options and exciting prospects for interesting seagoing experience.

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Internationality

The Ship Management - Nautical Sciences degree programme has a pronounced international orientation.

The language of instruction in all the modules you take in the programme is English. As English is also the predominant language spoken on board, in shipping companies and indeed the whole shipping community, a mastery of the language is an important recruitment criterion. HSB students and graduates alike constantly stress the significance of this factor for all nautical activities and there is a strong focus on promoting your language competence throughout your studies. It may be a bit unfamiliar at the beginning, but you will quickly get used to it.

Exchange programmes such as ERASMUS give you the opportunity to spend a semester studying at a partner university abroad. The HSB has cooperation agreements with universities spread all over the world.

Your fellow students on the degree programme come from many different countries, although German students make up the majority. But there are also students from other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South and North America. The ISMN programme therefore also offers an intensive intercultural exchange and promotes a common understanding of each other.

All partner universities of the HSB
  • Ein Piktogramm, das eine Person darstellt

    „I study ship management and nautical sciences at the Hochschule Bremen, which is a really international degree programme. All lectures are in English and students come from all over the world. It is the best preparation for a maritime career.“

    Jonas B. 6th semester

  • Ein Piktogramm, das eine Person darstellt

    „I am particularly fascinated by the modules and teaching style, which aim to foster students' intellectual development and independent learning skills which are so important for further professional and personal development. Most interestingly, the programme boasts an excellent reputation in the graduate job market.“

    Ejike Nwoye 7th semester

Application

  1. Information

    Check the application deadlines and admission requirements for your desired degree programme.

    Questions about the degree programme can be answered by the contact persons on the degree programme pages. If you have any further questions about your decision to study at HSB, our advisory and service institutions will be happy to help.

    • Advisory & Service at HSB
  2. Apply

    • Online application
    • International applications
  3. Admission and enrolment

    • Accepting a place and enrolling online
  4. Welcome to HSB!

    • Information on the start of studies

Achim Boehme Scholarship

Application

Winter semester of the academic year

Who may apply:

  • ISSC and ISMN students enrolled at Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences are eligible to apply.
  • ISSC and ISMN students who are facing financial challenges due to personal circumstances are especially encouraged to apply.

Description

In honour of the late Achim Boehme and his commitment to and achievements in providing maritime education, the Lomar Deutschland GmbH established the Achim Boehme Scholarship. This scholarship offers 500 euros monthly for one year. The scholarship may be renewed each year for a maximum of 6 semesters of full-time studies. The Achim Boehme Scholarship is open only to registered ISSC and ISMN students at HSB.

  • Scholarship value

    The scholarship value for recipients is 500 euros per month.

    Scholarship duration

    The monthly stipend of 500 euros is awarded for a period of one year (two consecutive semesters) and may be renewed every year, subject to the scholarship holder's compliance with the terms and condition of the scholarship as provided in the Letter of Scholarship Agreement.  Recipients have a maximum of 6 semesters to enjoy the scholarship. 

  • Applicants

    • must be enrolled as full-time students1 in the degree programmes International Studies Shipping and Chartering B.A. (ISSC) or International Studies in Ship Management – Nautical Sciences B.Sc. (ISMN);
    • must be a resident of Bremen/surrounding regions;  
    • must show financial need;
    • and must possess strong academic records.

    Please note that the Scholarship Committee is aware of the variation in financial circumstances of students and will therefore determine “financial need” on a case by case basis.

    1 Full-time student means he/she is enrolled with a regular load of 30 ECTS per semester.

  • Deadline for applications

    Application period for the Winter Semester 2021 starts on 18 October and ends on 5 November 2021 at 11.59 p.m. German time (Central European Time).  

    Interview

    Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by the Selection Committee from 10 to 12 November 2021.

    Decision

    Applicants will be informed of the decision of the Selection Committee no later than 30 November 2021.

    Application

    Applicants must complete the application form and upload the required documents in AULIS no later than 5 November 2021 at 11:59 p.m. German time (Central European Time).  

    Information and documents required to be submitted together with the completed application form are the following:

    • Letter of Motivation and Statement of Financial Need written in English or German, outlining how the degree programme is aligned with the candidate’s career plans, and an explanation of the applicant's financial situation which impact on his/her ability to pursue university studies;
    • copies of transcript of records;
    • copy of enrolled subjects for winter semester 2021 confirming enrolment of 30 ECTS (to be submitted no later than the end of the 4th week of the winter semester 2021);
    • copy of Certificate of Registration (Meldebescheinigung des Einwohnermeldeamts)

    Important information

    Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants are required to submit the documentation and complete the application form in AULIS.

    All supporting documentation must be submitted in English or in German.

    Conditions

    All recommendations of the Scholarship Committee and its decisions are final. There is no appeal process.

    The Scholarship Committee does not provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. Submitted applications and documents of unsuccessful applicants will not be returned. They will be dealt with in accordance with applicable HSB Rules and Regulations including personal data protection rules.

    Further terms and conditions of the scholarship will be contained in the Scholarship Agreement between the scholarship holder and HSB.

     

  • Achim Boehme, Lomar Shipping’s Chief Executive Officer, died peacefully on 25 July 2020 in Bremen, Germany.

    He had overall responsibility for the company’s management, strategy and development and was also CEO of Lomar Deutschland GmbH in Bremen, Germany.

    Honouring the life and legacy of a great leader and innovator, the Achim Boehme Scholarship will enshrine his lifelong contribution to the shipping industry as well as to Lomar Shipping/Lomar Deutschland, by educating and developing the leaders of tomorrow.

    Lomar Shipping is a global ship owning and management group. It is a market leader in high quality international ship management services. Based in London, Bremen and Singapore, dedicated teams oversee all aspects of ship management from chartering and crewing through to sophisticated vessel modifications and construction.

    The group has a mixed fleet of container vessels, bulk carriers, products and chemical tankers.

    Lomar is a principal subsidiary of the Libra Group, wholly owned by the Logothetis family, which for more than 40 years has been involved in every aspect of the shipping industry including ownership, commercial management and technical management.

    Today, Libra Group is a diverse international business group that is active in 35 countries across six continents. It focuses on six business areas: shipping, aviation, energy, hospitality, real estate, and diversified investments.

  • The City University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Bremen) has set up a separate donations account, to which donations can be transferred:

    • Beneficiary: Hochschule Bremen, Bremen
    • Bank: Deutsche Bundesbank
    • IBAN: DE69 2500 0000 0025 1015 53
    • BIC: MARKDEF1250
    • Reference: Fonds Nr. 83815022

Sailing on the Alexander von Humboldt II

Studierende sitzen in der Takelage des Segelschiffs Alexander von Humboldt II.
Studierende an Bord der Alexander von Humboldt II arbeiten mit Sextanten.
Nautikstudierende bei einer Feuerlöschübung an Deck des Segelschiffes Alexander von Humboldt II.
Nautikstudierende springen bei einer Übung in Neoprenanzügen von Bord des Segelschiffes Alexander von Humboldt II.
Nautikstudierende treiben bei einer Übung in Neoprenanzügen im Meer.
Nautikstudierende treiben bei einer Übung in Neoprenanzügen im Meer.
Nautikstudierende schwimmen im Meer neben dem Segelschiff Alexander von Humboldt II.

Frequently asked questions

The information contained in this section targets the applicants below and aims at providing answers to the questions about the admission process for the degree program International Ship Management - Nautical Sciences B.Sc. (ISMN):

  • German applicants
  • Foreign applicants who have a German higher education entrance qualification or who want to know how to obtain it
  • Applicants who have completed a study in Nautical Sciences or a maritime-related program or hold a (foreign) Certificate of Competency, have worked onboard a ship greater than 500 GT engaged in worldwide trade as an Officer or Deck Cadet
  • For the winter semester:

    If you have a German higher education entrance qualification and meet the admission requirements, you should first register in the portal Hochschulstart and then apply in CampInO.

    For the summer semester:

    Our degree program starts normally in the winter term. If you have already studied something similar to nautical studies, you may apply also for the summer term. If you have a German higher education entrance qualification and meet the admission requirements, apply in CampInO. 

  • Hochschule Bremen participates in the preliminary review documentation (German: Vorprüfungsdokumentation VPD) procedure by uni-assist. If you acquired your higher education entrance qualification abroad and meet the admission requirements, including the language requirements, firstly, apply for the Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD) at uni-assist.de before applying directly to HSB in CampInO with the VPD.

  • The application period for most degree programmes is as follows:

    Winter semester: 1 June – 15 July

    Summer semester: 15 December – 15 January

    It is important to note that the application deadlines may change. Please inform yourself on our website for up-to-date information.

  • Uni-assist carries out the preliminary evaluation of application documents (degrees and qualifications). Therefore, for this purpose, applicants are encouraged to send a complete application to uni-assist. Kindly note that uni-assist takes some time to process documents, so applicants should submit their documents well ahead of the application period.

  • As an applicant, you may contact uni-assist either using the contact form or contact details provided on the website.

  • Yes, you can start our Nautical Science programme without completing a ‘’studienkolleg’’. All you have to do is send your application through Uni-assist and CampInO, as already explained above.

  • There is no specific cut-off grade for admission. The best candidates are selected based on the number of applicants from the application pool.

  • Yes, you can apply. The sea service time is efficiently integrated into the study programme as two practical (internship) semesters, in semesters 3 and 6.

    12 months sea service time is a mandatory requirement to be eligible to take the Berufseingangprüfung (BEP = Professional Entrance Exam) in the last graduating semester in order to obtain your Certificate of Competency (CoC).

  • A recognised English proficiency certificate such as IELTS and TOEFL are some recommendations. It is important that any certificate clearly states the level as B2 or equivalent.

  • No, not for the admission. However, German Level B1 is already necessary for the examinations of the second academic semester, German Level B2 is a requirement for the Professional Entrance Exam (the Berufseingangprüfung – BEP) in the last graduating semester.

  • In order to obtain a Certificate of Competency from the German Flag State authority (BSH) either on the operational level or on the management level, you have to be enrolled to a university. Based on your previous education, you may expect to study shorter than usual 8 semesters, approximately 3-4 Semesters.

  • All sea service time or international certificates have to be presented to BSH (German Flag State Authority) for acceptance. It needs to be a sea service carried onboard a SOLAS ship greater than 500 GT engaged in worldwide trade. Once it is approved by the BSH, you will be credited for the semesters covering onboard internship.

    Contact details of BSH for this purpose:

    Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSB)

    Bernhard-Nocht Str.78

    20359 Hamburg

    Mrs Ulrike Münster

    +49(04)31907121

    ulrike.muenster@bsh.de

    Required Documents by BSH

    A Curriculum Vitae (CV);

    Evidence of sea service time as Officer of the Watch (OOW) or Deck Cadet;

    Proof of university/college education (certificate and academic transcript of records)

    For further information concerning education and competencies, visit the official website "Deutsche Flagge".

  • Application for accreditation for courses/modules passed in the former University is possible. This process takes place once you are enrolled in the university. You can then apply to the Examination Board (Prüfungsausschuss) of the degree program with a signed application letter via the E-mail address: Pa-nautik@hs-bremen.de supported by the below documents. The Board will decide on accreditation of modules accordingly. Again, this is possible once you are enrolled to our program.

    Required Documents:

    • Academic Transcript of Records;
    • Course Catalogue showing a brief description of the module contents, teaching hours and credit units
  • There are sometimes a few scholarships in the form of stipends available to our students. Opportunities for such scholarships are periodically advertised on the information board, directly via students’ emails, Aulis and other platforms. In addition, there are a bunch of other scholarships available for students, such as the DAAD scholarship and other private sponsors encouraging academic excellence and social engagements.

    Achim Boehme Scholarship

  • Yes, it is possible. We have many partner universities. On the MoveON-Site  by selecting our program in the drop-down menu of Studiengang, you can see partner universities all around the world. Please note that it should be clearly communicated which courses you take in the hosting university can be credited for you in your home university before taking part in an exchange program. 

  • Studying in most public universities in Germany comes with no tuition fees. However, you only pay a token in the form of semester fees every semester to stay enrolled. At Hochschule Bremen, the current semester fee is 374.66 euros (Three hundred and seventy-four euro and sixty-six cents) and includes the registration fee for the University, the student union and the semester ticket for many buses, trams and trains throughout Germany.

  • As an international student, you are obliged to prove means of sustenance before moving to Germany. The most common practice is to open a blocked account. You deposit about 10.521 euros (Ten thousand, five hundred and twenty-one euros) in the blocked account. That blocked money is meant for the sole purpose of your sustenance (rent, health insurance, semester fees payments, feeding) for one year whilst studying in Germany.

    Note that the amount to be blocked may vary from country to country.

  • With a provisional offer for admission, you can apply for accommodation with Studierendenwerk Bremen (general student services).

    Alternatively, living in a private apartment rented out by private house owners is also a possible option.

  • The summer semester starts on 01 April.

    The winter semester starts on 01 October.

  • http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/see-bv/

Contact

Head of programme

Ilknur Colmorn

Prof. Dr. Ilknur Colmorn
+49 421 5905 4134
+49 176 1514 0361
Email

Application, admission, enrolment and examination matters

Stefan Boelmans
+49 421 5905 4104
+49 176 1514 0130
Email

Service for (prospective) students

ISMN Service Center

1st floor, room 131
Flughafendamm 40

+49 421 5905 4666
Email

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