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 (exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals), marine engineering (design and operation of a vessel's propulsion machinery and other systems) or on-shore industries (shipbuilding/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 in the exploration and production of natural resources like oil, gas and minerals found under the seabed.

They develop the latest technology 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 engineering involves the exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals. Engineers are involved in all aspects of this work. 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 yield the maximum amount of the natural resource. Maritime engineers may use deep-water technology, like remotely operated vehicles, to carry out exploration and operations on the seabed.

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

Offshore engineers protect the environment, for example, by developing renewable energy sources like wind and wave power. They find environmental and cost-effective solutions to deal with problems like the disposal of redundant facilities, including disused oil platforms.

Marine engineering is concerned with the design, construction and operation of a vessel's propulsion machinery and associated equipment and systems. Seagoing marine engineers work on a wide variety of vessels, including container ships, passenger liners, pipelaying vessels, warships and submarines.

In the Merchant Navy, engineer officers typically spend about four months away at sea, followed by two months' leave. Their main task is to operate and maintain the ship's propulsion machinery. They also manage the ship's electrical systems and electronic equipment. Marine engineers may maintain and repair services like air conditioning and passenger lifts. On refrigerated cargo ships, engineers may be responsible for the system used to store goods like fruit and meat.

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. These days, 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 a curious, analytical mind and a strong interest in how things work. You will need the ability to solve problems using the combination of a logical approach with creativity, imagination and an open mind.

Maritime engineering is a fast-changing area, so you must be willing to learn and develop new knowledge and keep up to date with advances in technology.

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 numerical skills.

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

You may supervise or train other engineers or engineering technicians, so you must have good leadership skills; you need to 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 the company, role and level of responsibility.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Maritime engineers earn in the range of £23,000 - £28,500 a year, rising to £34,500 - £43,000. Higher earners can make around £50,000 a year.

Higher salaries are available depending on employer, role and responsibilities.

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

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 now 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 after completing service at sea.

It may be possible for those with relevant qualifications to take a degree in marine engineering and then go to sea to earn their Maritime and Coastguard Agency Certificates of Competency.

• 2% of people in occupations such as maritime engineer work part-time.
• 13% have flexible hours.
• 3% 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.