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A century ago, no one would have imagined the existence of marine engineering, today, it has found its space alongside any other industry, and serves as one of the “hot” professions. The growth and diversification of engineering has leading new fields of study within it, and specialized branches have emerged to serve the growing global population’s needs.
Most of these new fields are aligned with the primary engineering branches such as those of mechanical, computer, electrical, electronics, civil engineering, and many others. Marine engineering is an example of such specialized branches.
Marine engineering is a branch of engineering that manages the design, development, production and maintenance of machinery and systems used at sea and on vessels including but not limited to boats, ships, oil drilling platforms, etc.
A marine engineer is a professional who has studied marine engineering (sometimes also called maritime engineering) and is responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing all major mechanical and engineered equipment onboard a ship.
Several mechanical systems help operate vessels, such as propulsion mechanics, electricity and power generation systems, lubrication, fuel systems, water distillation, lighting, and air conditioning systems.
These are all included in the technical responsibilities of a marine engineer.
Some of the essential duties that people who have done marine engineering (maritime engineering) perform are:
Engineers of each ship’s rank are allocated specific machinery and systems for maintenance and tracking.
Machinery systems are divided among all engineers, and each engineer must ensure his/her machinery is running at all times. Marine engineers are also required to look after the machinery on deck.
The engine room department works as a team to ensure all machinery systems are maintained according to the planned maintenance system. Precise record-keeping of various parameters is carried out for official paperwork and reporting.
Marine engineers also transfer fuel oil from a bunker station or barge to the ship. This is usually the duty of the fourth engineer, who also takes regular soundings of the fuel oil tanks and reports them to the chief engineer for planning bunkering operations.
the study of marine engineering equips learners on how to perform considerable maintenance and breakdown of the machine systems while at sea. Even though marine engineers are quite skilled in this area, there are times where other professionals may be required. In those situations, marine engineers have to collaborate with the professionals to assist in the repair and solve the issue.
In addition to the above responsibilities, a marine engineer on board a ship is also required to observe and carry out any orders issued by the chief engineer who is in charge of the engine room of the ship.
A marine engineer may choose to work on different kinds of vessels depending on his/her prior training and skill set.
Some of the vessels are mentioned as follows:
Though the work of a marine engineer can be strenous, the increase in job opportunities has attracted many into the field. Both commercial sectors and armed forces provide great support to graduates in this area of study.
In the same way, various manufacturing industries or firms that deal in the production of vessels in some regions of the world, also employ marine engineers for their factories.
After passing some basic physical and medical tests, a marine engineer can also join the defence navy as a seagoing engineer. After receiving the technical qualifying requirements, it is possible to obtain this position.
Furthermore, there is availbility of fresh field positions as instructors and lecturers in many educational instituitions and there is a good supply of candidates to fulfill that demand. Looking at these trends and interests, it is reasonable to think that this field of study will persist in making a significant impact on the world.
A marine engineer may choose to work on different kinds of vessels depending on his/her prior training and skill set.
Some of the vessels are mentioned as follows:
Though the work of a marine engineer can be strenous, the increase in job opportunities has attracted many into the field. Both commercial sectors and armed forces provide great support to graduates in this area of study.
In the same way, various manufacturing industries or firms that deal in the production of vessels in some regions of the world, also employ marine engineers for their factories.
After passing some basic physical and medical tests, a marine engineer can also join the defence navy as a seagoing engineer. After receiving the technical qualifying requirements, it is possible to obtain this position.
Furthermore, there is availbility of fresh field positions as instructors and lecturers in many educational instituitions and there is a good supply of candidates to fulfill that demand. Looking at these trends and interests, it is reasonable to think that this field of study will persist in making a significant impact on the world.
Life following marine engineering aboard a ship is physically and emotionally exhausting. Even though the majority of marine engineering graduates (otherwise referred to as maritime engineers) serve onboard ships, some take up a shore job too.
The work of a marine engineer aboard a ship is tough since the engine room is a sophisticated mechanical system with an adverse environment. Engineers spend most of their time in four-hour shifts and are required to perform extra hours of maintenance work.
Work hours can be extended without much of a break in the event of an emergency until the machinery/system is back to normal working condition and the ship is not in danger.
While at the port, a marine engineer may go onshore if time is available and after obtaining permission from the chief engineer and captain.
With the progress of technology, the time spent by a ship at the port has significantly decreased, leaving the crew of the ship with no time to go on shore leave.
As with any other crew of a ship, Marine engineers are employed on a contractual basis. Shipping organizations typically provide four to six months of a working contract for marine engineers, depending on experience and rank.
Life following marine engineering aboard a ship is physically and emotionally exhausting. Even though the majority of marine engineering graduates (otherwise referred to as maritime engineers) serve onboard ships, some take up a shore job too.
The work of a marine engineer aboard a ship is tough since the engine room is a sophisticated mechanical system with an adverse environment. Engineers spend most of their time in four-hour shifts and are required to perform extra hours of maintenance work.
Work hours can be extended without much of a break in the event of an emergency until the machinery/system is back to normal working condition and the ship is not in danger.
While at the port, a marine engineer may go onshore if time is available and after obtaining permission from the chief engineer and captain.
With the progress of technology, the time spent by a ship at the port has significantly decreased, leaving the crew of the ship with no time to go on shore leave.
As with any other crew of a ship, Marine engineers are employed on a contractual basis. Shipping organizations typically provide four to six months of a working contract for marine engineers, depending on experience and rank.
After a four-year marine engineering degree course, the candidate is qualified to serve onboard ships (upon completion of obligatory supplementary courses). A new marine engineering graduate will be employed as a trainee or junior engineer on a ship for a six-month working engagement.
Upon completing the training and obligatory sea-time, a fifth engineer is qualified to sit for class IV exams, passing which he or she can be employed as a 4th engineer.
After getting sufficient experience and on the basis of performance, a company will offer a promotion to the third engineer. Upon completion of the mandatory sea time as a third engineer, one can sit for Class II exams to become a second engineer.
Likewise, after obtaining the required sea time and gaining adequate experience, a second engineer can sit for the Class I exam to become a chief engineer.
The salary of a marine engineer largely varies with the kind of ship he/she is on, shipping company, and experience.
The pay structure can also differ according to one’s nationality and the country one is from.
For. e.g. Indian marine engineers have pay in the range specified below (in USD$/month):
Fifth engineer – $350-1200
Fourth engineer – $2500-4000
Third engineer – $3500-5000
Second engineer – $5000 – $10500
Chief engineer -$7000 – $13000
Do not forget this is a mere rough estimated range and differs depending on the previously mentioned factors.
Numerous fields are connected with marine engineering, and some of them are given below.
Civil Engineering: Although not directly related, numerous civil engineering principles are required to develop shipping infrastructure such as ports, harbours, tunnels, and bridges. These principles also come into play for ocean engineering, which is a branch of marine engineering.
Ocean Engineering: Ocean engineering is associated with but distinct from marine engineering. The latter is concerned with shipboard equipment and systems, whereas the former is about structures in seas and oceans. Harbours, offshore structures such as oil rigs, wave energy systems, etc., are some of the ocean engineering projects.
Robotics: Marine engineering encompasses much of this discipline, including designing and employing unmanned underwater vehicles.
Mechanical Engineering: It is mechanical engineers who design the shipboard systems including steering, anchoring, electric, communication, and the propulsion plants. The installation, running, servicing, and regulating these systems is a task carried out by the marine engineers. In order to accomplish this, marine engineers should comprehend mechanical engineering concepts such as the strength of material, mechanics, fluid flow, etc.
Oceanography: Oceanography pertains to data gathering and analysing about seas and oceans.
Naval Architecture: Naval architects design ships and their propulsion systems. They can work with marine engineers, but the distinction is that naval architecture deals with design engineering, whereas marine engineering is primarily associated with the operation of these systems.
Marine Engineering is a significant discipline. Marine Engineers work, control, maintain, and repair onboard ship systems. They work in the Merchant Navy or Defense Navy and need to have knowledge from other disciplines, like mechanical engineering or naval architecture. Marine engineers’ work is physically and mentally challenging. They need to be aware not only of their work but also of environmental protection issues and environmental protection laws.
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