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Ship Engineers

Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.

What you’d do

  • Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
  • Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
  • Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
  • Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
  • Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
  • Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
  • Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment, or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
  • Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Operation and Control
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Repairing
  • Troubleshooting

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Engineer
  • Ferry Engineer
  • Port Engineer
  • Tug Boat Engineer
  • Barge Engineer
  • Harbor Engineer

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