Registered Civil Engineer (Port & Waterway) study plan
Registered Civil Engineer (Port & Waterway) · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics, waves, tides, and sediment transport & Port layout, berths, and waterfront structural design
Derive and apply linear wave theory relations (dispersion, celerity, shoaling, refraction) to at least 10 numerical problems without notes
Compute design wave heights using extreme-value fitting (Gumbel/Weibull) on a synthetic 30-year record and justify return period selection
Calculate berth occupancy, throughput capacity, and required number of berths from vessel arrival and service-time distributions
Sketch a typical cross-section of a gravity quay wall and a pile-supported wharf, labeling all load paths and design water levels
Your checkpoint
A 10-page formula sheet plus worked solutions covering wave transformation and berth capacity, scored against a self-made answer key (target ≥80%)
Coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics, waves, tides, and sediment transport & Port layout, berths, and waterfront structural design
Compute longshore sediment transport rates using the CERC formula and evaluate shoreline change with a one-line model
Size armor units for a rubble-mound breakwater using the Hudson and van der Meer formulae, comparing both results
Determine wave loads on a vertical breakwater using Goda's method and check sliding and overturning stability
Select fender and mooring system capacities for a given vessel size and berthing velocity
Your checkpoint
A complete breakwater and quay design calculation package (loads, stability factors of safety, armor sizing) for one worked site scenario
Geotechnical engineering for marine and waterfront structures & Navigation structures: breakwaters, locks, and ship lifts
Interpret a marine borehole log and CPT profile to derive design soil parameters for a quay wall foundation
Evaluate liquefaction potential and cyclic strength for a reclaimed sand fill under design earthquake loading
Compute axial and lateral capacity of driven steel pipe piles using an approved static formula and compare with dynamic test interpretation
Design a rubble-mound breakwater crest level and armor gradation to satisfy overtopping and stability criteria
Your checkpoint
A geotechnical design memorandum with parameter selection tables, pile capacity calculations, and a liquefaction assessment summary
Dredging, reclamation, and channel and basin design & Port and waterway planning, hydrology, and site investigation
Size a dredged navigation channel (depth, width, bend radius) using vessel squat, keel clearance, and maneuvering lane allowances
Estimate dredging production rates and costs for a cutter suction dredger given soil type, pipeline length, and working hours
Design a reclamation fill sequence including consolidation settlement estimates and surcharge staging
Assemble a site investigation program (bathymetry, geophysics, boreholes, metocean) matched to a stated project type and budget
Your checkpoint
A channel and reclamation design report with a costed dredging plan and a site investigation scope table
Navigation structures: breakwaters, locks, and ship lifts & Inland waterway engineering and river regulation
Design a lock chamber layout including filling/emptying system hydraulics and lockage time calculation
Compute head loss and flow capacity for a navigation channel with a lock and weir, and evaluate ship lift versus lock alternatives
Apply river regulation principles to design a training wall and groyne layout for a navigable reach
Calculate bed degradation and stable channel dimensions downstream of a dam using regime and threshold theories
Your checkpoint
A lock and river regulation design brief comparing two navigation structure alternatives with quantified lockage times and cost indicators
Construction methods, marine equipment, and project management & Codes, standards, safety, and environmental protection
Select marine construction plant (dredgers, crane barges, piling rigs) for three given work packages and justify each choice with cycle-time calculations
Build a critical path schedule for a phased marine works project including weather downtime allowances
Map environmental protection requirements (dredging disposal, turbidity control, EIA commitments) to specific construction activities
Identify the governing code clauses for breakwater, quay wall, and dredging design from the applicable national and international standards
Your checkpoint
A construction methodology and compliance matrix linking each major activity to plant, schedule duration, and the governing code or environmental requirement
Engineering economics and professional practice & Port and waterway planning, hydrology, and site investigation
Perform a present-worth and benefit-cost comparison of two port expansion options including O&M and residual value
Compute unit rates and a bill of quantities for a dredging and reclamation package
Draft a risk register for a marine project covering geotechnical, metocean, and contractual risks with mitigation actions
Explain professional and ethical obligations in reviewing and certifying another engineer's marine design calculations
Your checkpoint
An economic appraisal and risk register for a port expansion case, with a clear recommendation and stated assumptions
Coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics, waves, tides, and sediment transport & Geotechnical engineering for marine and waterfront structures & Port layout, berths, and waterfront structural design & Dredging, reclamation, and channel and basin design & Navigation structures: breakwaters, locks, and ship lifts & Inland waterway engineering and river regulation & Construction methods, marine equipment, and project management & Codes, standards, safety, and environmental protection & Engineering economics and professional practice
Complete two full-length timed mock exams under exam conditions and score each by domain
Re-work every missed question to identify the underlying concept gap rather than the arithmetic error
Consolidate the formula sheet into a one-page quick-reference for each domain
Rehearse written-answer structure for design-type questions within time limits
Your checkpoint
Two scored mock exams with a remediation log and a final one-page-per-domain quick-reference set
Milestones
Week 2: Score ≥75% on a self-made 20-question quiz covering wave transformation, sediment transport, breakwater loads, and berth capacity; if below, repeat weeks 1-2 calculation sets before proceeding
Week 4: Produce a complete channel, dredging, and reclamation design package unaided in under 3 hours, and pass a 15-question quiz on site investigation and hydrology at ≥75%
Week 6: Score ≥70% on a 25-question mixed quiz across domains 6-9, and demonstrate a construction schedule with realistic weather downtime and a completed compliance matrix
Week 8: Average ≥70% across two full mock exams with no single domain below 60%; otherwise schedule targeted re-study of the weakest two domains before the exam