Degree Programs Overview

Relevance and Expansion of PPGENAV

The creation of the Master’s Program in Naval Engineering at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) addresses the lack of courses in this field in the Northern region of Brazil, where the training of qualified professionals is essential to meet the demands of both public and private institutions. Until then, graduate programs in the naval and waterway transportation fields were concentrated in Southeastern Brazil, more than 3,000 km away from the Northern region, making professional qualification costly and largely inaccessible.

The partnership between UFPA and the University of Southampton (UK) strengthens the conditions for the development of joint research projects, broadening the academic scope and consolidating the program’s integration into national policies for scientific and technological development. In addition, PPGENAV meets the demands not only of Brazilian institutions but also of countries in South and Central America, seeking to advance the quality of river transportation in the Amazon.

The program has also been strongly sought after by Navy educational institutions and Federal Government agencies, reinforcing its strategic importance. The structure of the master’s program, with the support of the University of Southampton, enables graduates to pursue doctoral studies at the partner institution.

Since its approval by CAPES in 2014 and the enrollment of the first cohort in 2015, PPGENAV has become the first master’s program in Naval Engineering in Northern Brazil. The program continues to consolidate itself as a reference in the field, promoting sustainable development and strengthening research applied to Amazonian needs.

 

Mission of PPGENAV

The Graduate Program in Naval Engineering (PPGENAV) has the mission of driving the scientific, technological, and sustainable development of naval engineering and waterway transportation. Its focus is to offer innovative solutions that address the needs of the Amazon region and Brazil, fostering integration between environmental preservation, social inclusion, and economic competitiveness.

 

Objectives of PPGENAV

PPGENAV is structured to achieve the following objectives:

  • Human Resource Development: Train highly qualified professionals capable of addressing the challenges of the naval and logistics sectors, both regionally and globally.

  • Technological Innovation: Develop technologies applied to shipbuilding, inland waterway transport, and port infrastructure, aiming at efficiency and sustainability.

  • Environmental Sustainability: Promote the preservation of Amazonian ecosystems through the design of low-impact vessels and the implementation of sustainable logistics strategies.

  • Regional Connectivity: Improve the integration of riverside communities through the planning and operation of efficient logistics systems, reducing costs and expanding access to essential services.

  • Interdisciplinary Research: Stimulate applied research that integrates knowledge from naval, environmental, production, and systems engineering, seeking practical solutions to local and global challenges.

  • Contribution to Public Policies: Provide technical and scientific input for the formulation of public policies related to waterway transportation, water resource management, and sustainable development.

  • Regional Development: Foster the socioeconomic progress of the Amazon by strengthening inland waterway and port infrastructure and promoting competitiveness in the international context.

 

Areas of Concentration and Research Lines

PPGENAV is part of CAPES’ Engineering III evaluation area and organizes its academic and scientific activities into two complementary areas of concentration: 

1. Analysis of Processes and Naval Construction Systems

  • Computational Intelligence Applied to Naval Engineering

  • Processes of Shipbuilding and Construction of Vessels

  • Design and Optimization of Small Vessels Using CFD

2. Waterway Transportation

  •  Waterway Transport Planning

  • Economic Feasibility Studies of Transport Projects

  • River and Estuarine Geomorphology

  • Waterway and Port Infrastructure

 

These areas are strategically articulated to meet the program’s objectives and regional needs, strengthening its academic, scientific, economic, and social impact. Their complementarity is evidenced in the following aspects:

  •  Technological Integration: Analysis of Processes and Naval Construction Systems focuses on the development of vessels adapted to Amazonian conditions, while Waterway Transportation seeks to optimize the operation and logistics of these vessels.

  • Social and Economic Impact: The synergy between the areas enhances regional connectivity, fostering social inclusion, reducing logistical costs, and increasing economic competitiveness.

  • Environmental Sustainability: While the first area is dedicated to the design of sustainable vessels, the second develops operational strategies that respect the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems.

  • Contribution to Public Policies: The research developed within the program supports the formulation of public policies aimed at river transportation and water resource management in the Amazon.