Marine engineers onboard the ship monitor the performance of all the machinery and equipment and carry out maintenance as per plan. Normally a ship may have four to five engineers or sometimes more, and each of them has their work schedule and responsibility clearly split out. All the engineers are under the supervision of the Chief Engineer, who ensures the safe operation of the machinery, the safety of personnel under him, and environmental protection. Marine engineers also carry out periodic performance evaluation of ships’ machinery and gather information for maintenance or an upcoming retrofit. 

Offshore jobs for Marine Engineers may include spending time on the oil rigs to supervise maintenance or repair efforts involving the rig’s mechanical systems.

 

Based on the performance specifications of the vessel, marine engineers plan and operate the propulsion system to deliver the power required at maximum efficiency. They also operate the steering system, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems and hydraulics for the ship. If the nature of the job calls for a modification of the existing arrangement, design, or retrofit, the marine engineer views and suggestions are well considered by the designers.

Once marine engineers know what equipment is to be installed and where each duct, machine, and power source is to be located, they prepare detailed plans. They create layouts and schematics, determine the work schedule, and prepare a cost estimate for approval by management.

As the work progresses, marine engineers may conduct periodic inspections or tests to catch any issues as soon as possible. They ensure that design specifications are being followed, monitor the project budget, and prepare status reports for clients or managers. They also have the additional responsibility to ensure that the systems and machinery confer to the marine standards and specifications, which are well defined and accepted by all maritime nations.

 

WHERE DO MARINE ENGINEERS WORK?

As seagoing vessels are used in various industries, a marine engineer can take his or her own pick about where they will work. Such as:-

• Navy vessels where you can combine your naval career with your technical qualifications.
• Manufacturers of shipping equipment.
• Oil industries.

While they can work on vessels, there are shore job opportunities as well, such as –

• Hotels that incorporate sea vessels in their services.
• Government organizations.
• Shipping companies.
• Maritime Training Institutes. 
• Marine Engineering firms.
• Ship & Boat Building Industries.

MARINE ENGINEERING JOB PROFILES

According to reports, the employment of marine engineers and naval architects is expected to grow 12% from the year 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Marine engineers land jobs in Shipping firms, Indian Navy, Shipyards, Engine manufacturing companies, Shipbuilding firms, Ship design firms, Maritime universities, Research Institutions, etc.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES  IN MARINE ENGINEERING

Marine engineers can advance into supervisory or management positions with experience. Typically, the USCG licenses can help marine engineers move up; as the level of license increases, responsibilities usually increase. Some marine engineers move into sales, using their technical knowledge to help clients plan and execute projects.

 

MARINE ENGINEERING ASSOCIATIONS

Compared to some other engineering fields, Marine Engineering is a small and highly focused profession. However, there are opportunities for robust professional development and camaraderie.

Probably the largest international group in this field is the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. With membership around 8500, this organization is focused on its stated mission “to advance the art, science, and practice of naval architecture, shipbuilding, and marine engineering. India has an organization called “The Institute of Marine Engineers (INDIA)“ which helps in promoting knowledge and building relationships.

 Read this article to get a complete understanding of what Marine engineering is and how it is an excellent career option!

 

MARINE ENGINEERING

 

 Marine engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the operation and maintenance of several equipment onboard ships. The primary job of a Marine engineer onboard of the ship is:

– To ensure the safety of the ship.

– To ensure the safety of the people onboard. 

– To check the safe transportation of cargo. 

– To consider environmental protection. 

Hence a marine engineer should be competent enough to maintain and operate all the types of machinery without exception onboard of the ship. 

Marine Engineers are employable on foreign going and coastal trade ships of various types like Cargo ship, container ship, Oil & Chemical tankers, Car Carrier, LPG & LNG carriers, Off-shore vessels, Passenger ships, etc. 

 

SCOPE OF DOING MARINE ENGINEERING

 Marine engineering as a profession gives the scope for using theoretical knowledge into practice, which in turn provides fulfillment and job satisfaction. Let’s have a look at some of its’ benefits:

 *A talented person joining this field at the age of around 22 – 24 years, can easily become a Chief Engineer of a ship in the shortest possible time (within 6 to 8 years).

 *A medically fit marine engineer can continue to sail up to 70 years. 

 *Quick promotion to higher ranks in the sailing career is possible, as it depends only on passing the competency examinations along with associated skills possessed and not based on seniority or age. 

*Intermittent short time sailing contracts are also possible as per the individual requirement to meet domestic personal commitments. 

*Marine engineers are also employable in the Off-shore vessels, Oil platforms. Alternatively, shore-based careers can also be chosen in the Shipbuilding industry, Hospitality industry, Maritime education, Ports & Marine specific government jobs, etc.

 

 

 BECOMING A MARINE ENGINEER 

 

 Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from a reputed, well known, and the well-graded institute has many advantages both during the sea career and later when the candidate opts for a shore job after quitting the seagoing job. Many public and private colleges offer undergraduate degrees in Marine Engineering, but some schools specialize in this particular arena. Marine Engineers are thoroughly involved in the design and operation of shipboard mechanical, thermal, hydraulics, electrical, electronics, and environmental systems as well as power plants. The sea career enables one to get a sound practical knowledge of all machinery and equipment, and also provides considerable confidence to face and solve the problems.

Moving on to a Master’s Degree in Marine Engineering will often encompass a broader area of study, including Naval Architecture. Naval Architecture involves the overall structural design of ships and other vessels.

Further higher studies like Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the associated fields are also possible.  

After years of experience at sea, finding a career in shore-based industries for marine engineers is very easy. The Multinational Companies would honor the inherited personal attributes like leadership, dedication, commitment to the company, and international exposure, etc. 

 

 

IS MARINE ENGINEERING THE RIGHT CAREER FOR YOU?

 

Pursuing an engineering degree is a serious commitment and should not be taken lightly. Like any other engineering field, Marine Engineering requires a strong background in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. 

Marine Industry is one of the highest-paid industries globally and also offers faster career growth for competent professionals. Maritime Labour Conventions ensures the welfare and rights of seafarers worldwide. International cuisine is provided onboard the ship. Exploring the world is a gift to the seafarers, which comes in addition to their development of global professional expertise. 

 

 

• WHY STUDY MARINE ENGINEERING AT SVCE?

 

• SVCE is the first engineering college in India to get approval by the Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, and Government of India to start the four-year program in the B.E. Marine Engineering course in the year 1998. The degree is awarded by the well-known “ANNA University” Chennai.
• The program is consistently graded as “VERY GOOD” by DGS (Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, and Govt. Of India) authorized agencies during annual CIP (Comprehensive Inspection Program).
• STCW Courses (Standards for Training Certification and Watch-keeping) are arranged at renowned maritime training institute HIMT, Chennai.
• The department assists in getting all mandatory government documents like CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate), INDoS Number (Indian National Database of Seafarers), Training Manual, TAR Book (Training and Assessment Record), COC (Certificate of Competency) – Class IV Part A Exemption, SID (Seafarers Identity Document) and Onboard TAR Book.
• Limited intake helps individual attention to train with the correct attitude and frame of mind for a sea career. 
• The Six Month Afloat Training at Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi, to give a rich practical experience onboard a variety of ships.
• Well, experienced Marine Chief Engineers and faculty members who not just deliver career guidance for marine engineering but also share their expertise to enhance the teaching-learning process.
• Dedicated placement cell with excellent placement record, even during hard times. 
• The students after graduation will be able to join as Trainee marine engineers on board the ship.
• Excellent Infrastructure, Workshops, and Laboratories support academics to an exceptional extent.
• The classrooms are equipped with modern teaching aids.
• As this program is offered in an engineering college, students get the best blend of knowledge and practical exposure. Subjects are taught by experts in the respective field.

How many of us know that the prospect of marine engineers greatly depends on the Shipping and Logistics sector?

In order to understand this, one needs to know the logistics market better. 

 

SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS SECTOR

Shipping Industry is very crucial and extensive for the development of any country. 

The economy based on sea trade is aptly termed as “Blue Economy.” 

According to the Ministry of Shipping, around 95 percent of India’s trading by volume and 70 percent by value is done through the transport services for the maritime industry. India has 12 major, and 205 notified minor and intermediate ports. Under the National Perspective Plan for Sagarmala, six new mega ports will be developed in the country. 

The Indian ports and shipping industry plays a vital role in sustaining growth in the country’s trade and commerce. India is the sixteenth largest maritime country in the world, with a coastline of about 7,517 km. The Indian Government plays a vital role in supporting the ports sector. It has allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of up to 100 percent under the automatic route for port and harbor construction and maintenance projects. It has also facilitated a 10-year tax holiday to enterprises that develop, maintain, and operate ports, inland waterways, and inland ports.

 

SHIPPING LOGISTICS MARKET SIZE 

During the Financial Year (FY) 2019-20, cargo traffic at major ports in the country was reported at 699.05 million tonnes (MT). Cargo traffic handled stood at 463.07 MT in 2019 (till November 2019). Cargo traffic at non-major ports was estimated at 529.6 MT during FY 2018-19 and grew at 10 percent CAGR between FY 2017-18 and reached 281.0 million tonnes in FY 2018-19 (up to Sep 18). The major ports had a capacity of 1,514.09. MT per annum by FY 2019-20 (partial). The Maritime Agenda 2010-20 has a 2020 target of 3,130 MT of port capacity. The government has taken several measures to improve operational efficiency through mechanization, deepening the draft, and speedy evacuations. 

 

INVESTMENTS/ DEVELOPMENTS

• In November 2019, JSW Infrastructure commissioned a new iron ore terminal at the Paradip port in Odisha with a capacity to handle up to 18 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
• In November 2019, the first-ever movement of container cargo on Brahmaputra (National Waterway -2), focused on improving the connectivity to the North-Eastern Region (NER).
• In October 2019, Ease of Doing Business-Implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based Port Access Control System (PACS) at Kolkata Dock System (KDS) was introduced.
• JSW Infrastructure entered into a built, operate and transfer agreement with Paradip Port Trust at an investment of Rs 750 crore (US$107.31 million) to operate Paradip port.
• In August 2019, India became the first country in the world to issue Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID), capturing the facial biometric data of seafarers.
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) became the first Indian port operator to handle cargo movement of 200 million tonnes (MT) in 2018-19.
• Essar Ports will invest US$70 million in Hazira port by 2020.
• The current Honourable Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, has announced a massive investment in India’s ports and roads sector, which is likely to help boost the country’s economy. The Indian government plans to develop 10 coastal economic regions as part of plans to revive the country’s Sagarmala (string of ports) project.
• The zones would be converted into manufacturing hubs, supported by port modernization projects, and could span 300–500 km of the coastline. The government is also looking to develop the inland waterway sector as an alternative to road and rail routes to transport goods to the nation’s ports and hopes to attract private investment within the sector.
• The Ports sector in India has received a cumulative FDI of US$1.64 billion between April 2000 and March 2019.
• Indian ports and shipping sector witnessed three M&A deals worth US$29 million in 2017.

 

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES 

Some major initiatives taken by the government to promote the ports sector in India are as follows:

• As of November 2019, several projects with a total project cost of Rs 13,308.41 crore (US$1.90 billion) have been awarded in the last three years on up-gradation of the major ports.
• As of Union Budget 2019-20, the total allocation for the Ministry of Shipping is Rs 1,902.56 crore (US$272.22 million).
• Net profit at major ports has increased from Rs 1,150 crore (US$178.4 million) in FY13 to Rs 3,413 crore (US$529.6 million) in FY18 while operating margin increased from 23 percent to 44 percent.
• In May 2018, the Ministry of Shipping allowed foreign-flagged ships to carry containers for transshipment.
• In March 2018, a revised Model Concession Agreement (MCA) was approved to make port projects more investor-friendly and make the investment climate in the sector more attractive.

 

ROAD AHEAD

• Increasing investments and cargo traffic points towards a healthy outlook for the Indian ports sector. Providers of services such as operation and maintenance (O&M), pilotage and harbouring, and marine assets such as barges and dredges are benefiting from these investments.
• The capacity addition at ports is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5-6 percent till 2022, thereby adding 275-325 MT of capacity.
• Under the Sagarmala Programme, the government has envisioned a total of 189 projects for the modernization of ports involving an investment of Rs 1.42 trillion (US$22 billion) by the year 2035.
• The Ministry of Shipping has set a target capacity of over 3,130 MMT by 2020, which would be driven by participation from the private sector. Non-major ports are expected to generate over 50 percent of this capacity. 
• India’s cargo traffic handled by ports is expected to reach 1,695 million metric tonnes by 2021-22, according to a report of the National Transport Development Policy Committee. 
• Within the ports sector, projects worth an investment of US$10 billion have been identified and will be awarded over the coming five years.