Who is a marine engineer and what do they do? The marine engineer’s work includes ensuring trouble-free and optimum operation of mechanical, electrical and electronic ship equipment and units, including their repairs.
What are the activities of the marine engineer? The work involves making sure propelling units and other ship machinery and equipment are working properly, making checks on their lubrication, and cooling, and on the condition of steering mechanisms, signalling systems, battery charging, pressure gauges and other instruments and systems and their functions, and the maintenance of propelling units and other ship machinery and equipment, installation work and repair of all mechanical, electrical and electro-navigation systems, maintenance and repair of hydraulic systems, pressure equipment and systems of service water, incl. bacteriological filters, electric motors and d-c generators, lighting, signalling and power distribution systems, incl. alarm and interlocking systems, independent repairs done on-the-run, repair and maintenance of life boats.
Where is it done and under what conditions? In the engine rooms of various ships and water craft. In this work environment you could suffer from such problems as sea sickness, and there will be noise, dirt, shift work and long periods away from home, as well.
What tools/equipment do they use? The most used are: wrenches, screwdrivers, grease guns, gauges, circuit-testing equipment and other machinery and mechanical/electrical equipment.
What do you need to succeed? You need to have vocational training, an engineer’s way of thinking, manual dexterity, fast reactions, ability to work in a team, self-discipline and reliability.