Getting to know Marine Engineering

Marine Engineering pertains to designing, constructing, maintaining and operating systems for structures and vessels to be used at sea. This includes but is not limited to ships (both Main Fleet and Offshore supply vessels), oil platforms and submarines. In other words, marine engineers are skilled individuals involved in the design, construction and maintenance of vehicles and structures used on or around water. Marine engineering technology and techniques are used to create ships, oil platforms and harbours.

Thus, marine engineering is the branch of engineering which deals with the design, development, production and maintenance of the equipment used at sea and on board sea vessels like boats, ships etc. It includes but is not limited to power and propulsion plants, machinery, piping, automation and control systems for marine vehicles of any kind, such as surface ships and submarines. The purely mechanical ship operation aspect of marine engineering has some relationship with naval architecture. However, whereas naval architects are concerned with the overall design of the ship and its propulsion through the water, marine engineers are focused towards the main propulsion plant, the powering and mechanisation aspects of the ship functions such as steering, anchoring, cargo handling, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical power generation and electrical power distribution, interior and exterior communication, and other related requirements.

Marine engineering is a job that is very much sought after in recent years. The growth of the industry and the continued research and development in the field has rubbed off on the academic study of this engineering field and more people have started to opt for it. The increase in the commercial activities, across the seas also had a positive impact on marine engineering with unprecedented rise in the number of merchant navy vessels and trading.

There are colleges that offer both degree and post graduate courses in marine engineering. For someone who has ambitions of becoming a marine engineer, this is supposed to be the first base. The eligibility, required to take an admission in these courses is pretty much the same around the world and that is senior secondary certificate.

Life of a Marine Engineer is simply Challenging. A Marine Engineer plays a vital role in Moving International Freight of Cargo around the world and in Oil and Offshore Naval Industries. Typically a Marine Engineer runs the entire Technical Department on board a Merchant Ship. Joining as a Junior Engineer, after undergoing Pre-Sea Training ashore, one progresses on the path to become the Chief Engineer of a Ship.