The first institutionalized courses for merchant marine officers began as part of the Royal Naval Academy (Academia Real de Marinha [pt]) in 1779.
[2] By the end of the 1960s, the DNISP Delegação das Novas Instalações para os Serviços Públicos (New Installations Delegations for Public Services), a department of the DGEMN Direção-Geral de Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (Directorate General for Buildings and National Monuments), was given the charge of selecting and acquiring the land for the new building, in addition to conduct studies and various projects.
It is an important preparatory school for qualified professionals, engaged in the development of scientific research activities in the field of transport.
Besides the above programmes, ENIDH also offers the following specific degrees: In addition, professional higher technical courses (CTESP) include: The school is situated on an elevated plain along the coastal roadway that follows the Tagus estuary.
Alongside the principal block are the one-storey workshops, connected by covered gallery, that includes the thermal power station.
[2] The main building, or Escola de Oficiais da Marinha Mercante (Merchant Marine Officers' School) has an orthogonal, longitudinal plan with principal entrance in the centre, from which expand two wings destined for classes in the west and east.
The practical workshops are located on a single, ground floor, implanted to the north of the principal building, and interlinked to the east by awning.
[2] The large workshops include a design hall, washrooms and changing rooms, as well as an electrical transformer and switch, covered in cement ceiling tile and skylights providing natural illumination.
Similar to the main building, it includes large circulation corridors and two flights of stairs, located on the extremes that serve all floors.