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Diploma of Technology

Marine Mechanical Design

Frequently Asked Questions

A Marine Mechanical designer works closely with the Naval Architect and Naval Architect Technologist while selecting all the major and minor equipment for a ship including main engines, pumps, and compressors along with others to design and build ships and offshore structures. It is said they give the ship life when designing all the piping and HVAC systems allowing the ship to work efficiently while still meeting all the regulatory and environmental requirements to make the future ships GREEN.

Ship systems are all the piping, HVAC and propulsion components that allow the vessel to work and carry out the vessels day to day operations.

The Marine Mechanical Designer is responsible to ensure the vessel meets the owners requirements in a way that is economical while also making sure the vessel is environmental responsible (meet a GREEN standard). They can find themselves working on the design of Naval vessels, yachts, offshore oil and gas projects, onshore oil and gas projects (Oil Sands or refinery), commercial ship building projects or refits, or even land-based building designs.

Some on the tasks you may find yourself working on include but are not limited to:

  • 3D Modeling of ship systems and structure
  • Machinery Arrangements
  • Piping systems design
  • HVAV systems design
  • Equipment selection (Main engines, pumps, coolers and generators)
  • Surveying ships and oil and gas facilities

Marine Mechanical Design Students will enjoy:

  • One on one interaction with their instructors with small class size.
  • Learning by doing the work or practical projects and design.
  • Learn in an environment that mimics the real world ship design office.
  • Using 2D and 3D programs like Auto CAD and Rhino.
  • Visit ships and the local dockyard.
  • Use MS Office extensively.

Study key areas in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture including ship building and design practices, pipe design, HVAC design, fluid dynamics, ship hull form, ship structure, ship stability, hull resistance and propulsion, main and auxiliary machinery.

The program was started in 1983 by Sergio G.B. Rossi out of a demand by industry for Marine Engineering Designers for the many projects going at that time in Canada such as the Canadian Patrol Frigate (CPF). The program was known as the Marine Engineering Systems Design. In 2023 the name of the program changed to Marine Mechanical Design to reflect the change in terminology in the industry as well as to help perspective students better understand the role our grads play in the industry.

  • Technical education in Marine Mechanical Design coupled with knowledge of Naval Architecture
  • Technical education in general Marine Mechanical Design technology
  • Prepare students for employment in both land and marine based environments

Potential students often have an aptitude or interest in one or more of the following areas:

  • problem solving
  • looking for a challenge
  • 3D Modeling and new technology
  • ships, boats, yachts, and/or offshore structures
  • mechanical design and engineering
  • drawing/drafting (manual and/or CAD)
  • working with a team

Your first year will start like most other programs, with a variety of typical post-secondary courses (communication skills, math, physics, etc) and an introduction to Marine Mechanical Design, Naval Architecture as well as drafting and Auto CAD.

In the second year you will start your ship design project by design the diagrams for the different piping systems and other arrangement drawings for your selected ship including:

  • Bilge System
  • Ballast System
  • Fire System
  • Fuel Systems
  • Cooling System
  • Lube Oil System
  • Compressed Air System
  • Domestic Fresh Water System
  • Machinery Arrangement
  • Exhaust Piping Arrangement
  • You will also start your 3D model for your project vessels Engine Room

In the third and final year you will complete your design project including you ventilation arrangement, piping composite drawings final Machinery Arrangement and 3D Model. At the end of your final year you will take part in an industry day where you will have the opportunity to present with your classmates your project work to members of the Marine Institute community, industry partners, future employers and your friends and family.

Yes. There is an offshore structures course in which you will learn about the offshore oil industry and the design and operation of many types of offshore oil platforms and sub-sea pipelines and equipment. You will also take a course on cold environment design in which you will learn how to adapt your knowledge of designing ship systems to function properly and effectively in extreme environments.

Finally you are not limited to the marine industry when you complete our program. Some of our students never work in the marine field; instead they go in to the land based oil and gas industry or piping and HVAC design for buildings. One MMD graduate works on the Parliament Hill Rehabilitation using his skills learned in our program to bring these more then centuries old buildings in to the twenty first century.

Graduates of the Marine Mechanical program continue to be in high demand all over North America. Graduating students typically have accepted job offers prior to graduation. Some students continue their studies and complete a Bachelors Degree in Technology (BTech) or a Bachelors Degree in Maritime Studies (BMS).

The Shipbuilding and design industry is seeing a major surge in the last number of years with Canada starting a major shipbuilding program to replace its aging fleet. Some of the current projects on the books are:

  • The River-class destroyer, Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) – 15 Vessels
  • Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) – 8 Vessels
  • Joint Support Ships (JSS) – 2 Vessels
  • Heavy Polar Icebreakers – 2 Vessels
  • Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels – 3 Vessels
  • Multi-Purpose Vessels – 16 vessels
  • Medium Icebreakers – 6 Vessels
  • Kingston-class replacement project – TBD
  • Submarines – 12 vessels

This is just what the Canadian government is looking to build and does not include major and minor refits or provincial or commercial projects. South of the border things are even more attractive for our grads as many find themselves traveling and even starting lives in the US.

The goal of the MMD program is to prepare students for careers in the ship building, ship repair and conversion, and offshore industries, but also in general mechanical engineering.

Besides shipyard positions, students find employment with government agencies, consulting engineering firms, offshore and ocean engineering companies, engineering sales and servicing companies, refineries and pipeline industries, utility and industrial production companies, and the Canadian Navy.

Graduates from this program can work in numerous areas, such as ship systems design, estimation and planning, quality assurance technology, diesel engine sales, ship propulsion, production, and land based companies and plants.

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