MISSION

The Naval Architecture program is designed to:

• Provide a strong technical education in naval architecture and shipbuilding technology.
• Prepare students for employment in shipyards and boat yards, consulting firms, research establishments, government agencies and the offshore oil and gas industry.
• Develop practical skills employed in ship and boat design, 2D and 3D draughting surveying and quality assurance.

The Naval Architecture program is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce with a sound background in Naval Architecture technology along with a range of practical skills ready for use on their first day of employment.

Main Areas of Study:

• In the first year, students begin studying ship types and are introduced to the shipping business. Term 2 provides introductory courses in ship structures and marine engineering. The remaining courses in this year consist of foundation courses such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, materials study, and communication skills. Practical applications of commonly used computer software including spreadsheets, 2D draughting and presentation applications are addressed.
• Following Term 2 is a six-week technical session which sets the foundation for further study in ship design and hull form.
• The second year concentrates on the fundamentals in the three core subject areas which define a Naval Architecture Technologist; ship stability, ship structures and production, and hull strength assessment. Associated with each subject area is practical skills development including the use of stability software and CAD software for traditional 2D ships’ drawings as well as 3D design applications.
• Following Term 4 of the second year is a six-week technical session concentrating on marine systems and the economics of ship operations.
• The third and final year builds on the fundamentals of the three core subject areas as well as ship resistance and propulsion with each student completing an extensive ship design project beginning with a mission analysis and finishing with a complete preliminary ship design package. At the same time the student is introduced to offshore structures and composites for boats.

Characteristics of Graduates:

• Successful graduates of the Naval Architecture Technology program will have a proven work ethic and an excellent understanding of vessel design and construction practices, preparing them well for initial employment as a Naval Architect Technologist.

• The Naval Architecture program is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce with a sound background in Naval Architecture technology along with a range of practical skills ready for use on their first day of employment.
• Following an introduction to computer aided draughting in the first year, students hone their skills in the use of AutoCAD over the next two years through extensive project work involving ships’ general arrangements, structural steel drawings and a variety of system schematics.
• The program recognizes the role being played by three dimensional computer modeling in modern ship design practice and includes training in many of today’s widely used three dimensional design tools such as Maxsurf and Rhinoceros.
• Building on the fundamentals of intact and damaged ship stability, students prepare a standard Trim and Stability booklet as required by Transport Canada for most registered ships. Software associated with stability analyses is introduced in the second year with further exposure, through project work, in the final year of study.
• In the second year the fundamentals of ship resistance and propulsion are studied including the determination of an appropriate engine and propeller for a given hull based on achieving maximum efficiency. Students will also have an opportunity to carry out model resistance tests taking advantage of Memorial’s clear water tank testing facility. The following year, as part of an introductory course in composite hull construction, students will computer loft a hull and prepare it for cutting on a computer controlled router, assemble the parts into a plug and build a mould that can be used for creating multiple hull parts.
• In the final year of the diploma program each student undertakes a ship design project for a vessel type of his own choosing. The project begins in September with a description of the ship’s mission and ends with a public presentation of the design at the end of May. A classic approach to the iterative process of ship design is taken and the final design package includes; computer generated hull lines, general and machinery arrangements, capacity plan and structural drawings all supported by stability analyses, scantling determination from classification society rules, powering calculations and applicable national and international standards.

As per the Marine Institutes minimum entrance requirements for Diploma of Technology programs.

Length of the Program:

• Students will normally require three years to complete the diploma.

Number of Semesters:

• The program consists of six (6) 13 week academic terms and three (3) six (6) week technical terms.

Number of Courses:

• Students must complete 48 courses in 3 years of study

Work Terms:

• There are no formal work terms associated with the program, however students frequently obtain summer employment in the industry between the second and third years of the program.

Topics Covered in each Semester:

• Refer to program calendar – Main Areas of Study

There are no specific physical requirements required to enroll in the Naval Architecture program.

Naval Architecture graduates will be entering a broad and diverse field in ship and boat design, construction, and repair. The offshore oil and gas industry is also employing many graduates, along with various regulatory bodies such as Transport Canada, the American Bureau of Shipping, and Lloyds Register. While many work in an office environment, some jobs involve ship survey work or overseeing construction in shipyards or offshore. Graduates will be well prepared for a wide variety of these employment opportunities.

Types of Companies Graduate will find Work:

Graduates of the program typically work in shipyards, boatyards, general consulting firms, classification societies/marine surveyors, marine offshore industries, research establishments and government agencies.

Type of Job Titles:

See Sample Job Description

Location:

Students typically find employment in Canada and the United States, and some graduates have found employment overseas.

Sample Job Description

Typical activities for a Naval Architect Technologist associated with job titles:

Hull Draftsman

• Prepare structural steel drawings for ships at the concept, preliminary and detail design stages
• Plan new construction and repair work sequences for ship construction and refit
• Prepare work packages for various trades in the shipyard
• Estimate material and man-hour requirements for fabrication work

Chief Draftsman

• Perform design checks on preliminary design packages for bidding documents
• Schedule and manage drawing activities in the preparation design packages
• Determine drawing and man-hour requirements for ship refit or repair activities
• Design steel fabrication details for merchant and naval vessels

Consultant Naval Architect

• Design boats or ships to satisfy a stated purpose including specification, lines plan, general arrangement and structural layout, powering and machinery selection
• Perform stability assessments on ships
• Recommend and design changes to existing vessels to suit new vessel purposes
• Design fixed or floating structures for the offshore oil and gas industry

Ship Surveyor

• Inspect vessels for ship owners to determine overall condition or suitability for purchase
• Survey vessels to ensure compliance with Transport Canada or other flag state regulations
• Oversee vessel construction and refit projects to ensure compliance with Classification Society Rules
• Inspect vessels to determine repairs required due to accidents or lack of maintenance