Ship Engineer

Other Titles

Assistant Engineer, Chief Engineer, Engineer, Ferry Engineer, Harbor Engineer, Port Engineer, Towboat Engineer, Tug Boat Engineer, Tugboat Engineer

Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship. In this role, they monitor on-board instrumentation and controls to determine the performance of various ship parts. They also oversee the repair and maintenance of pumps, motors, winches and other equipment on board. A part of their job is to test-run ship engines to see if they function properly. In case of malfunctions, they coordinate with the repair crew members to identify the malfunction and resolve it.

Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.

Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment, or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.

Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.

Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.

Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.

Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.

Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.

Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.

Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.

Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.

Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction, and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.

Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.

Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.

Supervise 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.

Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.

Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery.

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.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

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.

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.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Repairing→ Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Equipment Selection→ Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic principles.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment→ Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical principles.

Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Operate ships or other watercraft.

Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.

Monitor engine operation or functioning.

Direct emergency management activities.

Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.

Record operational or production data.

Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.

Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.

Record operational details of travel.

Clean facilities or work areas.

Clean machinery or equipment.

Control pumps or pumping equipment.

Direct maintenance or repair activities.

Acquire supplies or equipment.

Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Multilimb Coordination→ The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Extent Flexibility→ The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Auditory Attention→ The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Hearing Sensitivity→ The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Reaction Time→ The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.

Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Speed of Closure→ The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Trunk Strength→ The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

Visual Color Discrimination→ The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Transportation→ Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Customer relationship management CRM software -- e.g., Sage; Xero; Salesforce software

Database user interface and query software -- e.g., Microsoft Access; Oracle software; Kongsberg Maritime K-LOG Electronic Logbooks

Document management software -- e.g., Marine Software Marine Safety Manager

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Zoho Mail; Microsoft Outlook

Enterprise application integration software -- Electronic data interchange EDI software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software -- e.g., Odoo; Sage; Xero; Sapama; ebizframe; Macro 2000; SYSPRO ERP; QuickEasy BOS; TrueERP; Microsoft Dynamics; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Hyperion; SAP

Facilities management software -- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS; Asset management operating software; Damen DAMOS; Marine Software Marine Planned Maintenance

Helpdesk or call center software -- Computer aided dispatch software

Industrial control software -- Plant automation software; AVEVA solutions

Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace

Operating system software -- e.g., Apple macOS; Bash; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux; Microsoft Windows; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script; Ubuntu; UNIX

Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint

Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Adjustable widemouth pliers→ Water pump pliers

Allen wrench→ Allen wrench sets

Ball peen hammer→ Ball peen hammers

Box end wrenches→ Box wrenches

Calipers→ Vernier calipers

Claw hammer→ Bell-faced claw hammers; Plain faced claw hammers

Cold chisels→ Diamond point chisels; Cape chisels; Flat cold chisels; Half round chisels; Round nose chisels

Combination pliers→ Combination jaw pliers

Combination wrenches

Commercial water heaters→ Feedwater heating equipment

Condensing units→ Condensers

Cross and straight pein hammer→ Cross peen hammers; Straight peen hammers

Curved nose pliers→ Curved needle nosed pliers

Depth gauges→ Digital depth gauges

Diagonal cut pliers→ Diagonal cutting pliers

Dial indicator or dial gauge→ Dial gauges

Diesel engines→ Diesel ship engines

Electric boilers→ Boilers

Emergency medical services first aid kits→ First aid kits

End cut pliers→ Side cutting pliers

Evaporative coolers→ Cooling towers

Feeler gauges

Fire suppression system→ Fire suppression systems

Flat hand file→ Double cut files; Single cut files

Flat nose pliers→ Duck bill pliers

Fuel pumps

Gas generators→ Gas powered generators

Goggles→ Safety goggles

Hacksaw→ Adjustable hacksaws; Solid hacksaws

Hammers→ Plastic hammers; Riveting hammers

Hex keys→ Bristol wrenches

Inspection mirror→ Long-handled inspection mirrors

Jigsaw→ Portable jigsaws

Longnose pliers→ Long nose pliers

Mallets→ Carpenter's mallets; Rawhide mallets; Wood mallets

Micrometers→ Digital micrometers

Multimeters→ Digital multimeters

Nut drivers→ Spintite wrenches

Open end wrenches→ Bonney wrenches

Pipe or tube cutter→ Tube cutters

Plasma cutting machine→ Gas cutters; Thermal cutters

Power chippers→ Pneumatic chipping hammers; Rotary impact scalers

Power drills→ Electric drills

Power flaring tool→ Flaring tools

Power grinders→ Portable grinders

Power sanders→ Disk sanders; Portable electric sanders

Pullers→ Gear pullers

Punches or nail sets or drifts→ Aligning punches; Drift punches; Center punch sets; Hollow shank gasket punches; Pin punches; Prick punches

Ratchets→ Ratchet handles; Speed handles

Razor knives→ Scraping tools

Rivet tools→ Riveters

Round nose pliers→ Short nose pliers; Wrench pliers

Rubber mallet→ Rubber mallets

Screwdrivers→ Clutch tip screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers; Standard screwdrivers

Shears→ Powered shears

Sledge hammer→ Cross peen sledge hammers; Double faced sledge hammers

Slip joint pliers

Sludge or sewage removal equipment→ Sewage treatment systems

Socket attachments and accessories→ Socket extensions

Socket sets→ Socket wrench sets

Sockets→ Union nut wrenches

Stationary separation equipment or parts or screens→ Oily water separation systems

Strain gauges→ Bridge gauges

Strap wrenches

Sump pumps→ Bilge water pumps

Taps→ Tap and die sets

Tinners snips→ Aviation snips; Circle snips; Straight hand snips; Trojan snips (see all 5 examples)

Torque wrenches

Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe→ Lathes

Turbine engines→ Gas turbine engines

Water pumps→ Ballast pumps; Firefighting pumps

Welder gloves→ Welding gloves

Welder torch→ Brazers; Welders

Welding masks

Wire brushes→ File brushes

Wire twister→ Safety wire pliers

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Enterprising→ Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.