Skilled trades at sea - Marine engineer and technician roles

Marine engineers are involved in the design, construction and maintenance of ships' marine systems and equipment, and offshore installations. They work in a number of different fields:

• in shipbuilding, they select or propose appropriate machinery for installation, which may include diesel engines, steam turbines, gas turbines or nuclear reactors, and design mechanical, electrical, fluid and control systems
• on board ship (and in Royal Navy submarines), they are responsible for making sure that all the ship's systems run efficiently, including fuel, power, electricity, propulsion, hydraulics, and water and air purification
• in marine surveying and ship repair, they inspect ships and their systems to determine their safety and seaworthiness
• in the offshore oil and gas industry, they are involved in the design, construction, modification, operation and maintenance of offshore platforms, pipelines, submersibles and associated systems
• in the leisure boat industry, they may manufacture, maintain or repair leisure craft in local boatyards.

Marine engineers must be knowledgeable about a range of different disciplines, including naval construction and mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering. They have to be adaptable and able to work with a wide variety of systems and equipment. They may supervise the work of marine engineering technicians and mechanics and work closely with a range of people, including ships' officers and crew, offshore workers and naval architects. Travelling in the UK and overseas and spending periods away from home may be required. Living quarters on a ship, submarine or offshore installation are compact, and jobs in these environments require spending 24 hours a day in close proximity to colleagues. Salaries in these areas are very good and there are lots of vacancies. This reflects the high degree of expertise involved in the job, and also the lifestyle that suits only the adventurous.

To become a marine engineer you will have a passion for the seas and for seafaring. You will also love studying science and technology. Getting on to a good degree course at university will require good A-levels in science and math subjects. Some marine engineers enter the profession through a maritime job. If you join the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy you can receive basic training on the job and then receive support to study to degree level while you work. If you are already on an engineering degree course, you can get sponsorship for the last two years of your degree. What a relief to leave university with no debt and an excellent job waiting for you.

Electro-Technical Officer (ETO)
You may enjoy the prospect of being an engineer but have a bias towards electrical and electronic equipment. If you’re interested in engineering and you have a knack with electronic equipment this could be just the job for you. Today’s ships depend on their electrical systems – for satellite navigation and radio communication and thousands of other functions. Someone has to be on-board to keep everything ticking over as it should. And during your training you’ll be taught all the mechanical and electrical skills you’ll need to be that person. Click HERE for other officer roles.

Marine engineering technicians perform a vital role at sea in ensuring the vessel remains fully functional and safe. They help to build, convert, service and repair ships, offshore platforms, other marine structures and the equipment installed on them. They use a range of tools and engineering skills, depending on the particular sector of the industry. These include cutting and welding, mechanical and electrical maintenance, and electronic equipment installation. Marine engineering technicians often work in teams under the direction of a professional engineer. The job is varied and there is currently a shortage of qualified people in this area, so lots of jobs available!

Marine engineering technicians may work at sea or on land, and tasks include working:

• on the equipment used to explore the seabed for oil, gas and minerals
• on the operation and maintenance of offshore platforms and the equipment used to extract materials from the sea
• using underwater craft, known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to inspect undersea pipelines
• on cruise liners, leisure vessels, cargo ships or pipe-laying vessels to keep the engines, equipment and systems running properly
• maintaining weapons systems, radar and sonar onboard Royal Navy warships.
• on land involved in shipbuilding and ship repair
• on land making specialist equipment for boats
• on land maintaining a fleet of leisure vessels for holiday and charter companies
• on land checking marine safety for coastguard agencies.

To become a marine engineering technician you can train through an Advanced Apprenticeship leading to a technician level qualification. Entry requirements for Advanced Apprenticeships vary, but are likely to be four GCSEs (A*-C) including maths, science or technology or equivalent qualifications. In some cases an A level or equivalent is required. Visit: Apprenticeships website. The Apprenticeship programme takes three to four years and includes training at work and at college. Entry requirements for marine engineering technician training in the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy are available through their websites. South Tyneside College offers a wide range of training options for marine engineer related work.

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