Ship Engineer

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

A Day in the Life of a Ship Engineer

• Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
• Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.
• Act as a liaison between a ship’s captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently.
• Supervise the activities of marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly.
• Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
• Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.

Essential Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Ship Engineers say are important on the job:

• Operation and Control : Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring : Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Critical Thinking : Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Equipment Maintenance : Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Troubleshooting : Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Repairing : Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Salary for a Ship Engineer

The salary for Ship Engineers ranges between about $40,330 and $123,670 a year.

Ship Engineers who work in New York, Missouri, or Washington , make the highest salaries.

Becoming a Ship Engineer

What education or degrees do I need to become a Ship Engineer?

What work experience do I need to become a Ship Engineer?

Where do Ship Engineers Work?

Below are examples of industries where Ship Engineers work: