Profession ship assistant engineer
Ship assistant engineers assist the ship chief engineer and the ship duty engineer in the operations of the ship's hull. They support the operation of the main engines, steering mechanism, electrical generation and other major subsystems. They communicate with maritime engineers about the performance of technical operations. They also ensure appropriate safety and regulatory standards compliance and are able to take on higher level positions if needed.
Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.
Personality Type
- Realistic / Conventional
Knowledge
- Electrical systems used in transportation
Understand the functioning of electrical systems, their specifications, and application in operations and systems for the transportation of freight and people.
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
The internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.
- Principles of mechanical engineering
Understand principles of mechanical engineering, physics, and materials science.
- Regulation on the discharge of raw materials into the sea
Know environmental regulations for the discharge of raw materials into the sea; ensure the use of chemical disinfection and dechlorination to produce a clean and safe effluent suitable for discharging at sea.
- Operation of different engines
Know the characteristics, maintenance requirements and operating procedures of various kinds of engines such as gas, diesel, electrical, and engines with steam propulsion plants.
- Engine components
Know the different engine components, and their operation and maintenance. Understand when repairs and replacement should be undertaken.
Skills
- Moor vessels
Follow standard procedures to moor vessels. Manage communication between the ship and the shore.
- Operate vessel engine room
Operate and maintain the engine room of vessels. Operate the main engine room where the engine and propulsion machinery are located.
- Maintain vessel inventory
Keep an up-to-date inventory for a vessel, including information on spare components, oil and fuel. Determine the amount of fuel that will be needed for a voyage; ensure that sufficient amounts of fuel are on board at all times.
- Operate sewage treatment plans on ships
Operate sewage treatment plants in ships, oversee plant maintenance, understand the mechanical functioning of the machine and comply with regulatory mandates of materials discharge to the sea.
- Manage on-board water systems
Operate and maintain on-board water-cooled engineering systems.
- Operate fire extinguishers
Understand the operation of fire extinguishing equipment and fire extinguishing techniques.
- Use different types of fire extinguishers
Understand and apply various methods of firefighting and various types and classes of fire extinguishing equipment.
- Operate diesel propulsion plants
Operate diesel and gas turbine propulsion plants including related machinery, such as auxiliary boilers, auxiliary engines, incinerators, air compressors, fuel and fuel oil purifiers.
- Provide support in vessel machinery systems
Provide support based on knowledge of maritime operations, vessel assurance, and machinery systems.
- Use maritime English
Communicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.
- Perform bunkering
Perform bunkering, the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use. Ensure sufficient amounts of fuel for the duration of the journeys.
- Unmoor vessels
Follow standard procedures to unmoor vessels. Manage communication between the ship and the shore.
- Manage ship electrical systems
Operate and maintain the electrical components of ships and the electrical distribution system. Know the various load circuits in case of system malfunction. Repair electrical systems in the event of damage or malfunctioning.
- Prepare engine room for operation
Prepare and start main engine and auxiliary engines; prepare machinery in engine room prior to departure; know and follow starting procedures according to checklist.
- Help prepare lifeboats
Assist sailors in preparing lifeboats for the journey and provide engineering knowledge for the maintenance and repair of lifeboats.
- Repair vessel mechanical systems
Repair mechanical systems of vessels while on-board. Ensure that vessel malfunctions are repaired without affecting the voyage in progress.
- Maintain vessel engine room
Maintain the engines and engine room equipment of a vessel. Conduct pre-checks prior to departure and ongoing examinations during the voyage.
- Perform routine maintenance of ship engines
Perform routine maintenance tasks on all ship engine systems; monitor engines to ensure they function within standard operating parameters.
- Perform routine lube oil tests
Conduct routine tests of lubrication oils in engineering systems and water separation systems.
- Manage vessel engines and systems
Manage main engines (steam, gas or diesel), refrigeration systems, and any other equipment in the vessel's engine system.