Marine Deck Technology - Course Planning

Through classroom instruction in Seattle Maritime Academy’s new teaching facility, you will learn the theory, design, operation and maintenance of deck equipment as well as applied navigational skills. In addition, you will receive hands-on training once a week during the second and third quarters aboard our training vessels. Finally, you will participate in a 90–day at–sea internship on a large commercial vessel to gain further practical experience in a real-life setting.

Below is a sample schedule, but please refer to the class schedule and program staff as course offerings may change.

First Quarter

MGO 101: Principles of Marine Mechanics
2 credits
Provides training in proper use of hand tools, power tools (both hand and stationary) and measuring instruments commonly used in mechanical trades. Covers safe work practices, including safety equipment, work procedures, etiquette and regulatory considerations. Includes fastenings, bearings, seals, gasketing methods and other relevant materials and equipment.

MGO 103: Survival Craft
3 credits
A study of survival craft commonly found aboard ships today. Training in lifeboat operation and handling congruous to that required for the U.S. Coast Guard rating of Lifeboatman. Includes lifeboat nomenclature and equipment, launching procedures, handling by oars, inflatables and other types of lifesaving equipment.

MGO 105: Leadership and Management
3 credits
Examines relevant concepts and principles in management, leadership and organizational communication as they apply aboard ship. Emphasis on instilling an attitude and work ethic required to realize the objectives of Social Responsibility advocated by the STCW Code. Satisfies the General Education Requirement in human relations.

MGO 111: Seamanship
3 credits
Study in seamanship to prepare for employment aboard ship. Includes training in seamanship congruous to that required for the U.S. Coast Guard rating of Able Seaman (AB). Includes nomenclature, ship structure, vessel equipment, deck fittings, knots and splices, rigging and watchstanding duties.

MGO 112: Marlinspike
2 credits
Practical instruction in use of line, cordage, wire rope and splicing methods. Includes reeving tackles and rigging stages, boatswains? chairs, pilot ladders and emergency steering gear.

MGO 113: Marine Safety
3 credits
Covers basic damage control, marine fire–fighting and other safety topics to prepare for employment in the marine industry. Includes stability changes to a damaged vessel, emergency repairs to hull and vessel systems, proper use of marine fire–fighting equipment, vessel safety equipment, shipboard emergency procedures and survival at sea.

MGO 119: Marine Mathematics
3 credits
Reviews algebraic and trigonometric methods. Includes the basics of signed numbers, linear equations, fractions, percentages, plane geometry, measurement and variables which represent additional aspects of mathematics required to solve shipboard problems. Satisfies the General Education Requirement in computation.

MGO 201: Naval Architecture
2 credits
Survey of ship design and construction of all types of vessels. Emphasis on basic naval architecture and management considerations regarding ship structure. Includes hull structure and components, vessel design process, design stresses, tonnage measurements and load line assignments.

MTS 210: Marine Meteorology
2 credits
A non–mathematical intro to meteorology with specific emphasis on marine applications. Focuses on ocean weather phenomena as they impact vessel operations and the role of the ship's officer in observing, recording and analyzing developing weather patterns.


Second Quarter

MGO 123: Basic Piloting and Navigation
3 credits
Introductory course focuses on chart navigation and basic methods of piloting. Emphasis on the use of charts and nautical publications, the IALS "B" buoyage system and solving standard navigation problems. Learn to determine geographic and luminous ranges of lights; correct for compass error, set and drift; plot dead reckoning tracks, running fixes and lines of position; solve time, speed and distance equations; predict tides and tidal currents; calculate simple ETA; formulate anchorage procedures.

MGO 133: Seamanship Practicum
6 credits
Introductory underway practicum. Receive indoctrination to both watchstanding duties and shipboard responsibilities of an able seaman. Perform all deck–related tasks one might expect to encounter when actually at sea. Involves 12 hour voyages weekly aboard SMA's training vessels.

MGO 137: Electronic Navigations Aids
2 credits
An introductory course in standard electronic equipment and systems used to aid in navigation and communication. Topics covered include radar, gyro compass, depthsounder, Loran C, RDF, GPS, GMDSS and radiotelephone. Receive specific training in radar piloting and collision avoidance theory using SMA's computer radar simulator.

MGO 140: Nautical Rules of the Road
3 credits
Comprehensive study of navigation rules and regulations including purpose, technical provisions and application. Provides a comparative study of the international (COLREGS) and inland (U.S. domestic) rules with emphasis on practical interpretation and application.

MTS 202: Stability
2 credits
Covers principles, terms and procedures used in the determination of transverse, longitudinal and damage stability of ships. Includes physical laws affecting a floating body, effects of cargo operations, loose water, fuel consumption, grounding and flooding on vessel stability. Includes analyses of case studies involving loss of stability and how to perform trim and stability calculations.


Third Quarter

ENGL 105: Applied Composition
3 credits
Covers skills and strategies needed to meet writing demands in college and on the job.

MGO 120: Vessel Maintenance
2 credits
Practical experience in vessel cleaning maintenance procedures and routine operation of a ship. Tasks include washing, sanding, scaling, chipping, grinding, priming, painting, stenciling and other assigned work both on the interior and exterior of training vessels. Focus on proper technique, optimal resource utilization, cost effectiveness and corrosion prevention.

MGO 124: Basic Vessel Handling
2 credits
Covers fundamentals of ship handling for small vessels based on single–screw theory. Instruction in ship handling techniques includes backing and filling, Y–backing, emergency stopping, flanking, and docking and undocking. Uses a small training vessel.

MGO 166: Navigation Practicum
6 credits
Advanced underway practicum. Under supervision, assume role of mate aboard ship and be responsible for navigating the training vessel and operating all related navigational equipment as well as directing the deck crew while underway. Demonstrate competency, proficiency and confidence in navigating a vessel without guidance. Includes 12–hour voyages weekly aboard SMA's training vessels.

MGO 223: Advanced Piloting and Navigation
3 credits
Continuation of MGO 123. Emphasizes advanced aspects of navigation and piloting essential to ocean voyaging. Studies methods for determining ETA of CPA by distance off; learn navigational techniques for ocean sailing and perform advanced ETA computations involving time conversion. Includes use of a sextant in determining position and range, measuring speed by RPM, fuel consumption and use of the speed log.

MTS 284: Shipboard Pollution Prevention
2 credits
Using a non–technical format, review issues in pollution prevention and control as they impact on the duties and tasks performed by deck and/or engineering personnel onboard ship.

MTS 294: License Seminar
2 credits
Seminar on licensure knowledge requirements for deck/engineering candidates preparing to take the U.S. Coast Guard deck/engineering exams. Learn to consult and reference the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46 and other publications.


Fourth Quarter

MGO 200: At Sea Internship
5 credits
Provides real–world at–sea experience on vessels of at least 500 gross tons that operate beyond the boundary line. During 30 day internship demonstrate mastery of the competencies outlined in Table A–II/4 of STCW for ratings forming part of navigational watch or Table A–III/4 of STCW for ratings forming part of an engineering watch.

61–64 total certificate credits

Questions about course planning? Contact Seattle Maritime Academy staff and faculty for help.