Marine Engineers?

Question

What does your typical day compose of as a marine engineer? like do you work 24/7 or you get weekends off while on the ship? what's it like being a marine engineer im considering the major and wanted to know the physical and theoretical expectations that come with the profession?

Answer 1

I sailed with MSC-Pacific as a watch stander. You work a minimum of 8 hours a day, watch sanders typically work 4 hours on and 8 hours off. Watches are 12-4, 4-8 or 8-12.

You get to rest at least 8 hours a day. Now if over time is available on the ship you will most likely do some maintenance work for an additional 4 to 8 hours a day during the day time in the hours between your normal watch standing duties.


As ships have become more automated some engine rooms have become unmanned in which case you will most likely work as a day worker 8am to 5pm at a minimum.

The type of ship also plays a part in your work load. For example I sailed on a cable layer, during cable laying ops I had an additional 1 or 2 four hour shifts after getting out of the engine room.

Some ships don't offer much in the way of overtime and may limit your additional work hours. I was on one government ship which had watch standers and day workers. During a budgetary cutback they knocked off the day workers on the week end while at sea to save the overtime. Not much to do on a ship at sea except work.

Commercial ships unlike Government ships are in the bussiness of making money so the crews on these ships are much smaller. As a result there is plenty of work and overtime is usually not an issue. Also commercial ships make money when moving from port to port and as a result they do not stay in port very long. Government ships like those operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC) may pull into a port and stay for several days. So travel opportunities are a little better with Governemtnt and research vessels but the money is a little less.

I also sailed with Woods Hole on the R/V Knoor, I was able to spend a week on Easter Island, 2weeks in New Zeland nad nearly two months in Sydney Austrailia.

Answer 2

The Marine Engineer has to be a jack of all trade, especially in engineering. He has to know all about the mechanical and electrical engineering involved in the operation and maintenance of a ship. He has to be able to service all the machinery without help from outside. He has to maintain the machinery in good
running condition, so that they can last for many years, and especially during the voyage from one end of the earth to the other. The machinery is designed to be run continuously for the whole voyage,which in many instances will be a month or so.

Any breakdown in machinery, or piping, or steel structure will have to be repaired as best as can be done
while the ship is still at sea. Any leaks in piping, propeller shaft, machinery, tanks, will have to be repaired,
or at least patched up temporarily until the next stop.

Any emergency, fire, may cause the ship to be forced to stop. Any stops while the ship is in the middle of
a rough sea may mean disaster for the ship, because when a ship stops, the rudder is no more effective
to steer the ship. A big wave may come along to drift the ship or even to heel the ship to one side.

Therefore the role of a Marine Engineer can be very well defined as:

Maintenance of Machinery

Operation of Machinery (Also called Watchkeeping)

Maneuvering the ship during arrival or departure from port.

Receiving bunker fuel oil, machinery spare parts, etc.


As a member of the ship, he will also have specific roles to play during an emergency like "Fire",
"Oil spills","Grounding","Flooding" etc. At other times, he will have to support other departments
like operating cargo pumps for deck department, helping in getting food provisions on board.



“Thechief engineer is responsible to the shipowner for the efficient operation of all machinery and
equipment, inspection of the hull and any administrative work associated with these functions.
The second engineer officer is responsible to the chief engineer for supervision of staff duties and
maintenance of the ship’s machinery. In addition to being responsible for the smooth functioning of
the engine room during their shift, third- and fourth-class officers also have specific duties assigned
to them".

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." On board a ship, voyages can last up to 3 weeks to a
month before land is reached. The seamen have to have some leisure activities in order to relax.

Some larger ships have all the luxuries like swimming pools, gymnasiums, and sports room.
Smaller ships have only the officer's lounge. When space is limited, indoor games like darts,
carrom, cards, are played in the officer's lounge. Movies, videos are freely available.Watching
safety movies once in a week is compulsory. Books,magazines are also available.Even games
like table tennis can be played.To play table tennis while the ship is rolling is quite an art. Not
only the ball moves, but also the player moves because of the ship movement.

The period when the ship is in port is the busiest period for everybody. In addition to extra work,
there is also extra fun.

Ports offer the seamen plenty of activities, from sightseeing, to shopping...................... to just to
escape to another world.

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All the Best
With Warm Regards
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