A nautical engineering degree allows individuals to design, construct, and repair maritime vehicles. Students learn how design development of a ship takes place, as well as how to evaluate the design of a ship and if the ship's design is operational. Nautical engineering students study hydrostatics, hydrodynamics and construction in class. Students can achieve degrees in nautical engineering all over the country as well as internationally.
For a mechanical engineering degree, a student studies the principles of physics and science. Individuals also study the analysis, design, and manufacturing of all materials, including those used in naval engineering. Production of heat and the mechanical power used in designing principles that are applied to the building and repairing of maritime vessels are included. Those interested in mechanical engineering will study thermodynamics and material science, allowing them the expertise to work on maritime vessels. Students can study mechanical engineering at any educational institution including the United States Naval Academy. It is a four-year degree.
Maritime engineering degrees apply the design, installation and operation and support systems used in developing and maintaining maritime vessels, just as in nautical engineering. The difference is that in maritime engineering students learn more about the operation and maintenance of systems such as electrical power systems and less about the construction and design of the ship itself, as in nautical engineering. These operations are usually carried out by maritime engineering officers and ships operated with cadets. Students can study maritime engineering at a variety of colleges, including the Maine Maritime Academy.