Maritime Engineer

Also known as:

Engineer, Marine
Ship Engineer

Introduction

Maritime engineers design, develop, operate and maintain the equipment and systems used on ships, offshore oil and gas installations and underwater vessels. They may specialise in offshore engineering, marine engineering or shore-based industries such as shipbuilding or repair.

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Work Activities

Maritime engineers play a very important role in shipbuilding and ship repair. They design, construct, operate and maintain ships, and all the systems and machinery used on maritime vessels.

Maritime engineers also use their skills to explore and produce natural resources like oil, gas and minerals found under the seabed.

They develop new technologies to explore previously inaccessible areas of the sea. Increasingly, maritime engineers find ways to use the sea's resources while preventing or minimising environmental damage.

There are three main areas of maritime engineering: offshore engineering, marine engineering and shore-based industries.

Offshore engineers are involved in all aspects of oil, gas and mineral exploration and production. They work closely with other specialists like geologists to decide the best place to site offshore oil or gas installations, making sure that the exploration work will be cost effective and productive.

Maritime engineers increasingly use deep-water technology, like remotely operated vehicles, to carry out exploration and operations on the seabed.

They design, construct, commission and operate fixed and mobile oil platforms and their systems. They may work in a design office, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology to create the safest and most efficient oilrigs. They choose appropriate materials to construct the installation and find ways to overcome the problems presented by wind, waves, currents and the nature of the seabed.

Offshore engineers protect the environment by developing renewable energy sources such as wind and wave power. They also find environmental and cost-effective solutions to problems such as the disposal of disused oil platforms.

Marine engineers design, construct and operate a vessel's engines and associated mechanical and electrical equipment and systems. Seagoing marine engineers work on a wide variety of vessels, including container ships, ferries, tankers, passenger liners, pipelaying vessels, warships and submarines.

In the Merchant Navy, engineer officers operate, maintain and repair the ship's engines. They also manage the ship's other mechanical and electrical systems and electronic equipment. They can spend long periods away at sea, but get generous leave in between to compensate.

In the Royal Navy, marine engineers can work on aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, assault ships, mine-counter vessels and submarines anywhere in the world.

In shore-based industries, maritime engineers design and oversee the construction of new ships. In the UK, the emphasis is on building specialist vessels, especially for the offshore industry and the Royal Navy.

Maritime engineers who work for shipping companies may be responsible for operating and maintaining a fleet of ships. They may design or construct machinery and systems for new or existing vessels.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You will need an inquiring, analytical mind and a strong interest in how things work. You should have the ability to solve problems combining a logical approach with creativity, imagination and an open mind.

You must be willing to learn and develop new knowledge and keep up to date with advances in technology. You should be able to understand and interpret technical plans and drawings.

You will need strong communication and interpersonal skills to work well in a team, especially if you serve at sea.

You may be responsible for planning timetables and budgets, so you need good organisational, written and number skills.

You will need good computer skills to use a wide range of sophisticated information technology.

You may supervise or train other engineers or engineering technicians, so you should be able to encourage and motivate others.

Royal Navy engineers must be prepared to work in combat conditions.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries vary, depending on employer, role and responsibilities.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Maritime engineers earn in the range of £23,000 - £28,500 a year, rising to £36,500 - £45,000. Higher earners can make around £50,000 a year, and higher salaries are possible.

Most shore-based maritime engineers work around 35-40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, early starts, late finishes and some weekend work may be required.

Sea-going engineers in the Merchant Navy, Royal Navy or in the offshore industries are likely to work shifts as ships and offshore installations operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Initial employment is usually with:
• companies concerned with the design, construction and maintenance of ships
• the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy
• shipping companies
• offshore industries.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Engineering) could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

There are other pathways through which adults can register as Chartered or Incorporated Engineers, such as career progression and routes based on the achievement of occupational standards.

Increasingly, seagoing marine officers who are qualified to HND or HNC level are continuing their education during, and after completing, service at sea.

Some entrants with relevant qualifications take a degree in marine engineering and then go to sea to earn their Maritime and Coastguard Agency Certificates of Competency.

• 7% of people in occupations such as maritime engineer work part-time.
• 12% have flexible hours.
• 4% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy.