Ocean: Hydrodynamics and Marine Engineering

Overview

The aim of the 'Ocean: Hydrodynamics and Marine Engineering' is to provide education for students in hydrodynamics for ocean engineering. The study of offshore structures is essential for several areas of application involving some major societal issues:

Low-carbon renewable energy: offshore wind and renewable marine energies are an important source of low-carbon energy. In particular, offshore wind power is currently experiencing major industrial development (with the objective of meeting 25% of annual electricity demand in the European Union in 2050). The design and optimization of platforms as well as the transport and installation of offshore wind turbines are important issues for the sector, which also aims to reduce the cost of the energy produced.
Offshore gas and oil extraction: with demand still very strong, extraction will continue as energy transition takes hold. The dismantling of offshore platforms at the end of their life is also a challenge for the industry, the marine environment and biodiversity.
Naval field and maritime transport, which represents 80% of world trade in goods. The decarbonization of this sector is a major challenge for energy transition and the International Maritime Organization aims to curb the sector's emissions by 70% by 2050 (compared to 2008). Many R&D projects are already underway in both research and industry: alternative fuels, wind propulsion, improvement of ship performance (hull, propeller, etc.), changes in operational issues (port logistics, routing, etc.) or optimized management of the energy mix.

The 'Ocean: Hydrodynamics and Marine Engineering' programme will allow students to acquire knowledge on the behaviour of offshore structures and to develop their skills in numerical and experimental hydrodynamics to meet these challenges in industry or research.

Contribution to sustainable development goals

SDG 9 - INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

► Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals

Admission

International students can follow this specialisation, taught in French, via:

A double degree programme - Open to international students selected by our partner institutions. Selected students spend two years studying courses from the engineering programme at Centrale Nantes. This usually includes one year of the common-core engineering curriculum followed by one year of specialisation. Double degree students are typically accepted after successfully completing two or three years of higher education in their home institution.
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The fast-track engineering programme: Open to students with a Bachelor's or equivalent degree in science. Our fast-track programme gives international students who are qualified to bachelor level the opportunity to gain the 'diplôme d'ingénieur' in just two years.
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Course Content

2024/25 Academic Year

Autumn Semester	Spring Semester
Marine environment & hydrodynamic loads	Advanced hydrodynamics
Numerical hydrodynamics 1	Shipbuilding & maritime economy
Introduction to hydrodynamics	Fluid-structure interaction
Seakeeping and stability	Offshore wind energy
Numerical hydrodynamics 2	Project 2
Experimental hydrodynamics	Internship
Ship manoeuvrability and moorings
Lifting bodies & propulsion
Project 1

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Examples of projects and internships

Examples of past projects

Pre-design and characterization of floating offshore wind farms: LHEEA-Centrale Nantes
Aerodynamics and wind propulsion-sensitivity of interactions: Bureau Veritas Solutions
Numerical study of the aerodynamic performance of a vertical axis wind turbine: LHEEA-Centrale Nantes
Structural study of a class 40 sailboat in bio-sourced material: David Raison Ingénierie Navale
Study of innovative mooring systems for floating wind turbines: Innosea
Study of a fishing boat with sailing assistance: H&T
Comparison and verification of a turbine model on OrcaFlex and OpenFast software: Innosea

Examples of past internships

Aero-elastic calculations with hydrodynamic coupling on offshore wind turbine: Bureau Veritas, France
Analysis of data at sea with study of the fatigue of an mooring line: University of Exeter, England
Modeling of wave spectra: DHI, Denmark
Offshore installation study: Innosea, Scotland
Optimization of the design of the foundation of a floating wind turbine: EDF-EN, France
Experimental optimization of the control of a wind thruster for merchant ships: CRAIN, France
Participation in ship studies: stability, structure, pre-project: H&T, France
Marine operations and logistics: TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport), France

After the specialisation