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Marine Diesel Engine Course
More than 2 million students worldwide

Marine Diesel Engine Course

5

Master every system inside a marine diesel engine, from fuel injection and turbocharging to watch-keeping and environmental compliance. This course gives working engineers and aspiring officers the technical depth needed to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot main and auxiliary engines with confidence. Build job-ready skills that meet international maritime standards.

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What you will learn:

You will gain a thorough understanding of diesel combustion principles, engine classification, and all major supporting systems including fuel, lubrication, cooling, and air management. You will learn how to diagnose and resolve real engine faults using structured fault-finding methods and indicator diagram analysis. The course covers planned maintenance procedures for cylinder units, crankshafts, bearings, and injection equipment. You will also develop competency in engine room watch-keeping, emergency response, and unattended machinery space operations. Finally, you will apply current emission control regulations and explore alternative fuels shaping the future of marine propulsion.

How you study in practice Marine Diesel Engine Course

How you practice Marine Diesel Engine Course

For companies looking to train their teams

With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.

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Course Content

8 Chapters • 37 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Fundamentals of Marine Diesel Engines

  • Lesson 1 • Marine Engine Classification

    Distinguishes low-speed, medium-speed, and high-speed diesel engines by RPM range and application. Links engine class to vessel type and propulsion arrangement.

  • Lesson 2 • Major Engine Components Overview

    Identifies the primary structural and moving parts of a marine diesel engine. Builds component vocabulary essential for maintenance and troubleshooting chapters.

  • Lesson 3 • Engine Performance Parameters

    Defines brake power, indicated power, mechanical efficiency, and specific fuel consumption. Establishes measurable benchmarks used throughout the course.

  • Lesson 4 • Diesel Combustion Principles

    Covers the four-stroke and two-stroke combustion cycles and compression-ignition theory. Provides the thermodynamic baseline for all subsequent engine analysis.

Chapter 2See details

Engine Systems and Subsystems

  • Lesson 1 • Starting and Control Systems

    Explains compressed-air starting, reversing mechanisms, and governor-based speed control. These systems enable safe maneuvering covered in operational chapters.

  • Lesson 2 • Lubrication Oil System

    Explains forced-lubrication circuits, oil grades, and filtration for main and auxiliary engines. Proper lubrication prevents wear and underpins reliability discussed in later chapters.

  • Lesson 3 • Air and Exhaust Systems

    Covers scavenging, turbocharging, charge-air cooling, and exhaust gas routing. Adequate air supply is critical to combustion quality and power output.

  • Lesson 4 • Cooling Water System

    Describes fresh-water and sea-water cooling circuits, heat exchangers, and temperature control. Thermal management directly affects engine efficiency and component life.

  • Lesson 5 • Fuel Oil System

    Covers fuel storage, transfer, purification, and injection supply circuits. Connects fuel quality and system condition to combustion performance established in Chapter 1.

Chapter 3See details

Fuel Injection and Combustion Management

  • Lesson 1 • Fuel Injection System Components

    Identifies jerk pumps, common-rail units, fuel valves, and high-pressure piping. Component knowledge is prerequisite to injection timing and fault diagnosis.

  • Lesson 2 • Combustion Diagnosis and Optimization

    Uses indicator diagrams, exhaust temperatures, and smoke analysis to evaluate combustion. Diagnostic skills developed here support the troubleshooting chapter.

  • Lesson 3 • Spray Pattern and Atomization

    Analyzes nozzle hole geometry, opening pressure, and atomization quality. Good atomization ensures complete combustion and minimizes carbon deposits.

  • Lesson 4 • Injection Timing and Quantity Control

    Explains static and dynamic timing, fuel index, and load-dependent quantity adjustment. Correct timing directly determines combustion efficiency and exhaust emissions.

Chapter 4See details

Turbocharging and Air Management

  • Lesson 1 • Turbocharger Operation and Monitoring

    Describes run-up procedures, speed monitoring, surge detection, and performance trending. Continuous monitoring prevents catastrophic turbocharger failure.

  • Lesson 2 • Turbocharger Maintenance and Faults

    Covers compressor and turbine cleaning, bearing inspection, and common failure modes. Planned maintenance extends turbocharger service life and preserves engine efficiency.

  • Lesson 3 • Charge-Air Cooling Systems

    Explains air cooler design, coolant circuits, and the effect of charge-air temperature on power and emissions. Cooler performance directly affects volumetric efficiency.

  • Lesson 4 • Turbocharger Theory and Design

    Covers compressor and turbine aerodynamics, pressure ratios, and turbocharger matching. Builds on scavenging concepts from Chapter 2 to explain boosted air delivery.

Chapter 5See details

Engine Maintenance and Planned Maintenance

  • Lesson 1 • Auxiliary System Maintenance

    Addresses pump overhaul, heat exchanger cleaning, filter servicing, and governor maintenance. Auxiliary system reliability supports continuous engine operation between major overhauls.

  • Lesson 2 • Planned Maintenance System Principles

    Introduces interval-based and condition-based maintenance philosophies and documentation. A structured maintenance system reduces unplanned downtime and supports class surveys.

  • Lesson 3 • Crankshaft and Bearing Maintenance

    Covers crankshaft deflection measurement, main and bottom-end bearing inspection, and clearance checks. Bearing condition is critical to crankshaft alignment and engine longevity.

  • Lesson 4 • Fuel and Injection Equipment Maintenance

    Covers fuel pump overhaul, fuel valve testing, and high-pressure pipe inspection. Injection equipment condition directly affects combustion quality and fuel consumption.

  • Lesson 5 • Cylinder Unit Maintenance

    Details piston removal, ring inspection, liner measurement, and cylinder head overhaul. Cylinder unit condition directly determines compression and combustion quality.

Chapter 6See details

Engine Troubleshooting and Fault Diagnosis

  • Lesson 1 • Lubrication and Cooling System Faults

    Identifies low oil pressure, high oil temperature, coolant leaks, and overheating causes. Fluid system faults can escalate to catastrophic engine damage if unresolved.

  • Lesson 2 • Power and Performance Faults

    Diagnoses loss of power, uneven cylinder loading, and abnormal fuel consumption. Performance faults are traced using indicator diagrams and exhaust data from Chapter 3.

  • Lesson 3 • Starting and Maneuvering Faults

    Covers failure to start, slow starting, and reversing difficulties in main and auxiliary engines. Maneuvering reliability is critical to vessel safety during port operations.

  • Lesson 4 • Diagnostic Methodology

    Introduces symptom-based and system-based fault-finding frameworks and root-cause analysis. A structured approach reduces diagnostic time and prevents misdiagnosis.

  • Lesson 5 • Abnormal Noise and Vibration Diagnosis

    Identifies knocking, rattling, and excessive vibration sources within the engine structure. Early noise diagnosis prevents secondary damage to bearings and structural components.

Chapter 7See details

Engine Room Operations and Watch-Keeping

  • Lesson 1 • Watch-Keeping Duties and Responsibilities

    Defines the duties of the engineer on watch, handover procedures, and log-keeping requirements. Effective watch-keeping is the foundation of safe and efficient engine room management.

  • Lesson 2 • Emergency Procedures in the Engine Room

    Covers engine room flooding, fire, blackout, and main engine failure response. Rapid and correct emergency response minimizes risk to vessel, crew, and environment.

  • Lesson 3 • Operational Monitoring and Data Recording

    Covers routine parameter checks, alarm response, and trend logging for all engine systems. Consistent data recording enables early detection of developing faults.

  • Lesson 4 • Unattended Machinery Space Operations

    Explains UMS certification requirements, alarm systems, and periodic inspection routines. UMS operation demands reliable automation and disciplined inspection protocols.

  • Lesson 5 • Engine Maneuvering Procedures

    Details engine preparation, standby, maneuvering, and finished-with-engines sequences. Correct maneuvering procedures protect engine components during load transients.

Chapter 8See details

Emissions, Efficiency, and Environmental Compliance

  • Lesson 1 • Marine Exhaust Emissions Overview

    Identifies NOx, SOx, PM, and CO2 as primary marine pollutants and their formation mechanisms. Understanding emission sources is prerequisite to applying control technologies.

  • Lesson 2 • Emission Reduction Technologies

    Explains exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalytic reduction, and scrubber systems. These technologies enable compliance without sacrificing engine power output.

  • Lesson 3 • International Emission Control Standards

    Covers global and regional emission control area requirements for NOx and SOx limits. Compliance with international standards is mandatory for vessel certification and port entry.

  • Lesson 4 • Fuel Efficiency and Energy Management

    Covers slow steaming, trim optimization, waste heat recovery, and fuel consumption monitoring. Efficiency measures reduce operating costs and lower the vessel's carbon footprint.

  • Lesson 5 • Alternative Fuels for Marine Diesels

    Introduces LNG, methanol, biofuels, and hydrogen as marine fuel alternatives and their engine implications. Alternative fuels represent the industry's pathway to decarbonization.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

  • Junior marine engineer: ready to move beyond basic duties into deeper technical roles.

  • Cadet or trainee officer: building the engine knowledge required for certification exams.

  • Experienced seafarer: transitioning from deck operations into engineering department responsibilities.

  • Diesel mechanic: applying existing mechanical skills to the specialized demands of marine propulsion.

  • Shore-based technician: supporting vessel maintenance and needing stronger marine engine system knowledge.

  • Career changer: entering the maritime industry with a mechanical background and clear ambition.

What our students say

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